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THE
NEGRO LAW
SOUTH CAROLINA,
COLLBCTED AND DIGESTED BY
JOHN BELTON O'NEALL,
One of the Judges of the Courts of La^v and Error*! of the said State,
UNDER A RESOLUTION OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH CAROLINA :
Read before them, at their September Semi-Aiinual Meeting, I8!8,at Spartanburg
Court House — by them directed to be submitted to the Governor, with a
request that he would lay it before the Legislature, at itsapproacli-
ing Session, November, 1818, and by him ordered to be
published fur the information of the Members.
COLUMBIA :
PRINTED BY JOHN G. BOWMAN.
1848
r
r
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, DAVID JOHNSON,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over South. Carolina.
This work, passing through your hands to the Legislature of the
State, may, I trust, be appropriately dedicated to you, as a slight
testimonial of the friendship which, for more than thirty years, at
the Bar, on the Bench, in your present high and dignified office,
and in all the relations of life, has existed, and I hope ever will exist
between us.
JOHN BELTON O'NEALL.
Springfield, Oct. 3, 1848.
To the State Agricultural Society of South Carolina :
The undersigned, charged with the preparation of a digest of the
Law in relation to Negroes, (slave or free.) and directed to make
such suggestions of amendment as to him may seem expedient, begs
leave to submit the following as the result of an examination of the
subject committed to him, so far as his time and opportunity allowed.
JOHN BELTON O'NEALL.
Springfield, August 14, 1848.
£ s d £
Proclamation Money, 133, 6, 8, for 100
s d s d
Currency, 32, 8, for 4, '
NEGRO LAW OF SOUTH CAUOLIXA.
CHAPTER I.
The Status of the Negro^ his Rights and Disabilities.
Section 1. The Act of 1740, sec. I, declares all negroes and
Indians, (free Indians in amity with this Govcrnmcat, negroes, mu-p l. ig3.
lattoes and mestizoes, who now are free, excepted J to be slaves: — 'Siat. 397.
the offspring to follow the condition of the mother: and that such
slaves are chattels personal.
Sec. 2. Under this provision it has been uniformly held. th;it color
is prima facie evidence, that the party bearing the color of a negro. Harden? oiote,)
mulatto or mestizo, is a slave: but the same prima facie result does '^.fi^^^^-^j vvj",;,.
not follow from the Indian color. more, i Rich'n,
Sec. 3. Indians, and descendants of Indians arc regarded as free
Indians, in amity with this government, until the contrary be shown. „.„
, . , "^ • •' Miller vs. Daw-
In the second proviso of sec. 1, of the Act of 1740, it is declared son & urown,
that " every negro, Indian, mulatto and mestizo is a slave unless 174. ^^ ^ '^^''
the contrary can be made to appear"— yet, in the same it is immedi-^om.decide.Un
ately thereafter provided — " the Indians in amity with this govern- J^^Jj"'^^'""'"'^"'
ment, excepted, in which case the burden of proof shall lie on the ^- !;■• ^^■
defendant," that is, on the person claiming the Indian plaintiff to be
a slave. This latter clause of the proviso is now regarded as furnish-
ing the rule. The race of slave Indians, or of Indians not in amity
to this government, (the State,) is extinct, and hence the previous
part of the proviso has no application.
Sec. 4. The term negro is confined to slave Africans, (the ancient ^Jjp^°"\'r;^P'j
Berbers) and their descendants. It does not embrace the free in-a"<J "'hers. 1
1 1 • r> » z' ■ Cnn. Rep. by
liabitants of Africa, such as the Egyptians, Moors, or the ne<i-ro Mill. 194-5.
A • *• u .1' T a,/i J 3 == The Slate vs.
Asiatics, such as the Lascars. Scott, 1 Bail. 27.3.
o. =• •» I 1 -1 r. Slate V.S. Hayes,
bEC. 5. Mulatto is the issue of the white and the ne^To. 1 Bail. '-'76.
° The State vs.
Sec. 6. When the mulatto ceases, and a party bearino- some Scott. i Bail. 274.
ight tamt of the African blood, ranks as white, is a (luestion tor the Davis & Hanna,
2 Bail 5,T8. '-' -
State vs. C<
2Hill,015.
solution of a Jury. st.i'tpvs.caiitev.
r, Negro Law of Sorxii CAnoLiNA.
The fitate ts. Seq. 7. Whenever the African taint is so far removed, that upon
Cniitey, 2 llill, , ^ , i. i • j
C15, 616. John- inispection a party may be fairly pronounced to be white, and
<;""er's, iAM. such has been his or lier previous reception into society, and enjoy-
vs.^hl Tax^Col- ment of the privileges usually enjoyed by white people, the Jury may
Fhaw"^ s'liidi'n ^^^^ ^'^'^ regard the party as white.
TheSmfevfDa- ^Ec. 8. No specific rulc, as to the quantity of negro blood which
^^■{^'■m^""'Tl\r- ^^'^^ compel a Jury to find one to be a mulatto, has ever been adopted,
jier vs. tiie Tax Between + and i seems fairly to be debateable ground. When the
•Collector of Ma- , . , , , , i , x i i x £ j .^u
rion, decided in biood IS veduced to, or below f, the Jury ought always to iina tne
<.^arieston, Feb. ^^^^y ^^f^jfg^ When the blood is i or more African, the Jury must
find the party a mulatto.
Sec. 0 The question of color, and of course of caste, arises in vari-
Hayef.'i Ba'if." 0"^ ways, and may in some cases be decided without the interven-
A^%cotri o'ai? ^^''^^ ^^^-^^''y* As when a party is convicted and brought up for
'273. The Stale sentence, or a witness on the stand obiected to as a free negro, mulat-
vs. Cantey, 2 ' .. , ■ , • i i
Hill, 614. to, or mestizo, in these cases, if the color be so obvious that there
can be no mistake about it, the Judge may refuse to sentence, or may
2d Ser 0th Art exclude the witness ; still if the party against whose color the decision
Con. oi s. c. 1 may be made, should claim to have the question tried by a Jury, it
Stat. 191. -^ ' ^ J . '
must, I apprehend, be so tried.
?B!fiS.^'°"' ^''^c- 10- There are three classes of cases, in which the question
Johnson vs^^^^^ q^p^j^j. g^j^^j gf PQ^cgg^ of caste, most commonly occurs. 1st. Prohibi-
270-1.' The State lion ao-ainst inferior Courts, or the Tax Collector. 2d. Objections
Ts. Cantev,2Hill ° r- ■ , c^ ■ ^ oj a •
614. Croinervs, to witnesses offered to testify in the Superior Courts, od. Actions
Miller, N. P. De
cis. Charleston,
Way, '47.
Soott, 1 Bail.
of slander for words charging the plaintiff' with being a mulatto.
Sec. 11. In the first class, free negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes
The state vs. are liable to be tried for all offences, by a magistrate, and five free
holders, (except in Charleston, where two magistrates must sit,) and
of course, any person claiming to be white, (over whom, if that be
true, they have no jurisdiction.) charged before them criminally, may
object to their jurisdiction, and if they persist in trying him or her,
may apply for, and on making good the allegation, is entitled to
have the writ of prohibition. It seems if the party submits to have
the question of jurisdiction tried by the Inferior Court, he will be
concluded.
Sec. 12. The writ of prohibition is generally granted, nisi, on
a suggestion sworn to by the relator, by any Judge at Chambers,
on notice being given to the Court claiming jurisdiction; but if the
fact be uncontroverted, or so plain as not to admit of doubt, that the
relator is wliite, the Judge may at once grant an absolute prohibi-
tion. Generally, however, an issue is ordered to be made up on
granting the prohibition, nisi, in which the relator is plaintitf, and
on the Jury finding the relator to be a free white person, tlie prohi-
bition is made absolute.
Nrcnn Law of Sorxii Caholina. 7
Sec. 13. In this class, too, the Tax Collectors frequently issue B'J|"?f''-[U*^[:^|-
tax executions for capitation taxes, against persons whom they sup- '••i;. i M'Muii.
pose to be free negroes, mulattocs, or nicstizoe.«, (' fre* pcrt:ons of.iohiisnn vs.
color," as they are sometimes loosely called.) If the person or per- 07',')" i! wMiei;
6Dns against wliom they be issued, be not liable to the tax, they may, eXxTorofK"
on a suggestion, move for, and have the writ of prohibition. f:^''"'^ i* lUch'n,
Sec. 14. In such cases, where, from the affidavits accompanying
he suggeston, it appears that the relator or relators has or have, been
received in society as white, and has or have enjoyed the privileges
of a white person, or of white people. I have uniformly made the
order for prohibition to become absolute, if the Tax Collector did
not within a given time, file his suggestions contesting the status of
the relator or relators. This course has been adopted, because the
Tax Collector has no jurisdiction over the person of the relator, and
has no judicial authority whatever to decide the question of caste.
His execution is predicated of an assumed fact. He is, therefore,
bound to make that good, before he can collect the tax. This course
has been found extremely convenient, as it has cut off an immense
amount of litigation. For. generally, the Tax Collectors exercise a
sound and honest discretion, in pursuing only those cases where
there seems to be no room to doubt the degraded caste of the rela-
tor or relators.
• Sec. 15. Where, however, there is to be a question as to the
color of the relator or relators, the Court may in its discretion cast
the burden of proof on the Tax Collector, or the relator. Generally,
I think, it should be cast on the Tax Collector, as his execution is
the first allegation of the color of the relator. As the issue may re-
sult, the writ of prohibition is made absolute or dissolved.
Sec. 16. In all the cases of the first class, the decision is conclu- see Beporter'ff
sive ; in all subsequent cases, civil or criminal. For the prohibi- "fni ve. ' Fitz-
tion is in the nature of a criminal proceeding, operating in rewi, ^°"^'^^"''^'"'
and binds not only the parties, but also all the people of the Common- p/f^ai'^a ^'i
wealth. So it seems, that any decision made in favor of the caste Rich'b, 252.
of the relator, as white, may be given in evidence in his favor.
Sec. 17. In the 2d class, the objection to the competency of the
witness, makes the issue collateral, and it is tried instanter, without
any formal issue being made up, and the finding is upon the record
on trial. The verdict, in such a case, concludes nothing beyond the
question of competency in that case. It, however, might be given
in evidence for or against the witness, not as conclusive, but as a
circumstance having weight in settling the question of status, in all
other cases.
Sec 18. In the 3d class, where justification is pleaded and found, ler, n. p. uecis.
it would seem to forever conclude the Plaintiff from rc-agitating the 1347! *^ " ' *^'
8 NEfiRo Law of Romi Carolina.
question. But. where the defance is as usual, that the Defendant
had good reason to suspect and believe that the Plaintiff' was. a.s
he allogcd. a mulatto, in such case, a finding of nominal damages
sustains the defence, yet it concludes not the Plaintiff from after-
wards averring and proving that he was white.
Skc. 19. Free Indians and their descendants, unmixed by African
Thf State ex re- blood. are entitled to all the privileges of white men. except that of
MHisiiniieiKime suffrage and office. The former, and of consequence the latter, has
Mn'sii.) vs. the h*^^" denied to a pure Indian, living among the whites. The fore-
tion^'im' v'urk'''"' go'"= principle resulting from the case cited in the margin, is, I am
Dist. isi Bail 215 persuaded, wrong. The term white, (-''free white man,") used in
our Constitution, is comparative merely: it was intended to be used
in opposition to the colors resulting from the slave blood. The case
should be reviewed, and I trust the decision will be reversed ; for
the case in which it was made, will always condemn it. The relator,
the Rev. John Mush, was an Indian of the Pawmunki tribe of In-
dians, in Virginia ; he was a soldier of the Revolution, he had as
such, taken the oath of allegiance. He was sent out as a Mission-
ary to the Catawbas. He, however, did not reside among them ;
he lived among the white inhabitants of York District, where he
had resided for many years. He was a man of unexceptionable
character. Yet, strange to say, he was held not to be entitled to
vote. If that decision be right, how long is the objection to prevail 1
When is the descendant of an Indian to be regarded as white ? Is
it. that he is not to be so regarded, until a jury shall find him to be
white, on account of the great preponderance of the white blood?
But the Indian blood, like that of the white, is the blood of free-
dom ; there is nothing degrading in it, and hence, therefore, the
Indian and his descendants may well claim to be white within the
legal meaning of our Constitution.
Miller vs Daw- ^^^' ^^' ^ ™estizo is the issuc of a negro and an Indian, and is
son and Hrown, subject to all the disabilities of a free negro and mulatto.
174, 176. 2d Pro- Sec. 21. The burden of proof of freedom rests upon the necro,
viso of 1st Sec. , ^^ ^- I • • u /-
of the Act of mulatto, or mestizo, claiming to be iree.
r^Stat.Vs'.' ^"' Sf'^- 22. Under the Act of 1740. 1st sec. 1st proviso, and the Act
of 1799, it is provided, if any negro, mulatto, or mestizo shall claim
2d Faust, 324. j-jjg qj. ]ier freedom, he may on application to the Clerk of the Court
of Common Pleas of the District, have a guardian appointed, who is
anthorized to bring an action of trespass, in the nature of ravishment
of ward, against any person claiming property in the said negro, mu-
latto or mestizo, or having possession of the same; in which action, the
Wesner ads S^"^'"^^ '^^"^ ™3.y be pleaded, and the special circumstances given
GuardianofTom in evidence ; and upon a general or special verdict found, judtrment
Bnster, 1st M'- ,,,,. ,. )J=>
Mull., 135. shall be given according to the very right of the case, without any
Nloul) Law ur Solth Caholina. « 9
rcijaril to defects in tlie proceeding', in form or substance. In such case,
if the verdict b(! that the ward of the Piaintifl" is free, a special entry
sliail be made dechiring him to be free— and the jury is authorized
to assiess diiraages which the PlairititPs ward may have sustained,
and tlie Court is directed to give judgment, and award execution for
the damages and cost; but if judgment is given for the Defendant,
then tlie Court is authorized to iiitiict corporal punishment on the
ward of the Plaintiti". not extending to life or limb. Under the 2d
sec. of the Act of 17-40. it is provided that the Defendant in such
action, shall enter into a recognizance with one or more sufficient p l. ig4.
sureties to the Plaintilf. in such sum as the Court of Conmion Pleas
may direct, conditioned to produce the ward of the Plaintill", at all
times when required by the Court, and that while the action or suit
is pending, he shall not be eloigned, abused or misused.
Sec. 23. Under the 1st proviso, the action of trepa.ss in the na-
ture of ravishment of ward, is an action sounding altogether in
damages. The finding for the Plaintiff, is aliogther of damages, which
may be made up ol" the value of the services of the Plaintiff's ward,
and recompense for any abuse, or injury, which he may sustain.
For such damages and the costs, the judgment is entered up, and
execution issues.
Sec. 24. Under the Act, the Court is authorized, on such finding Rice ads. Spear
for the PlaintitT, lo make a special entry, that the ward of the Plain- Hllrp'iuportj'i).
titf is free. This entry ought to recite the action, the finding of the
Jury, and then should follow the order of the Court, that the Plain-
tilPs ward is free, and th it he be di charged from the service of the
Defendant. This should be spread on the minutes of the Court.
This entry is. it seems, evidence of the freedom of the Plaintih sjjju^oj gjiters,
ward in all other cases, and against all other persons. It is only "'"•
conclusive, however, against the Defendant ; against all other per-
sons, it is prima Jacie merely. Under the 2d sec, the proceeding
is by petition, setting out the action brought to recover the freedom
of the negro, the possession by the Defendant, with a prayer, tliat
the Defendant enter into the recognizance required by law. If this
order bedisobeyed.theDefendant may beattached foraconteinpt. until
it be obeyed; or it may be in analogy to the decision under the
Trover Act, that the Sheriff might arrest the Defendant under t^'i-' n^J^dllWcM.
order, and keep him in custody until he entered into the recogniz-
ance. I never knew the order made but once, and that was in the
case of Spear and Galbreath, Guardians of Charles, vs. Rice, Harp.
20. In that case, the order was complied with by the Defendant on
notice of it.
Sec. 25. The evidence of freedom is as various as the cases.
Sec. 26. Proof tliat a negro has been suffered to live in a conimu-S'^afevs.Har.ie!!,
^ . r c ^ ^ 2JSpfer:, lot),
nity for years as a freeman, is prina facie proof of trcedcra. (no.t.)
10 Negro Law of South Cakol!?.-a.
Miner,Adm'r. of Sec. 27. If bcforc the Act of 1S20, n uecrro was at lar^re, without
Beiiiieu, vs. ; o o
Reigne.etal.2d. an owner, and acting as a freeman for twenty years, the Court
Hill, 592. TI.e , , ' .= •, . i ^ .
State vs. Hill, 2d woulcl presume omnia esse rila acta, and every munmient necesirary
peers, . ^^ give effect to freedom to have been properly executed.
Sec. 2S. This rule applies also, when freedom has been begun to
be enjoyed bclbrc the Act of 1S20, and the 20 year.s are completed
after.
Cooper'sJustini- Sec. 29. Before the Act of 1800. (hereafler to be adverted to.)
an Notes, 416 , ' '
Saiieyvs.Beatty, any thing which shewed that the owner had dtdiberaieiy parted
1. BiV, 250. -,1 I • , 1 1- 1 1 ,, ■ , ... ,
Bovversvs. New- witn Ills property, and dissolved the viiicuiuni suvUii, v/as enough
ma.K2. M'Muil. tQ establish freedom.
kKnii/rR ^^^- '^^- ^^^^ validity of freedom depends upon the law of the
13, Rice ads. place where it begins. Hence, w:ien slaves have b^et; maiuiiu. tied
spear and Gal- f
breath. Harper's in Other States, and are found in this State, their freedom here, will
Law Report 20. , , .i i- i-, ,• i t . i ' .
depend on the validity ol the manumission at the place whence they
came.
7 Stat. 442, 443. Sec. 31. By the 7th. Sth and 9th sections of the Act of 1830, it
was provided, that emancipation could only take effect by deed ; that
the owner intending to emancipate a slave, should, with tlie slave,
appear before a Justice of the Q.uoram. am^ five Freeholders of the
vicinage, and upon oath, answer all sudi qnustioiis as they miixht
ask touching the character and capability of the slave to gaiti a live-
lihood in an honest way. And if. upon sucli examination, it appeared
to them the slave was not of bad character, and was capable of gain-
ing a livelihood in an honest way, they were dire,cti;d to indor,?e a
certificate upon the deed to that eliect ; and upon the said deed and
certificate being recorded in the Clerk's office, within 6 moniii.s from
the execution, the emancipation was declared to In; leg.ii and valid,
otherwise, that it was void. The person emancipating was directed
by the Sth section, to deliver to the slave a copy of the deed of
emancipation, attested by the Clerk, within 10 days after such deed
shall have been executed.
Sec. 32. The person emancipating, neglecting or refusing to deli-
ver such copy, was, by the 9th section, declared to be liable to a line
of S50, with costs, to be recovered by any one who shall sue lor the
same.
Sec. 33. It was also provided by the 9th section, tliat a slave
emancipated contrary to this Act. may be seized, and made property
by any one.
Sec. 31. It u'as held, for a long time, that when a will directed
slaves to be free, or to be set free, that they were liabh> to seizure,
1st Bail. 632,633. as illegally emancipated. But the ca.'^es oi'Lenoii v.'^. Svlvester. and
Young vs. the same, put that matter rigiit. In them, it was held,
that a bequest of freedom was not void, under the Act of 18G0 — that
it could have no effect until the Executor assented— that when he did
NKorto Law of South Carolina.
11
a?senr, it was his chny to so assent as to give legal cfiect to the
bequest. As legal owner, he could c.xeeute the deed, appear before
the Magistrate and Freeholders, answer the questions, and do every
act required by the law, ami thus make li>e emancipation legal.
Sec 35 A "slave illfvallv emancipate.!, was free, as ajjainst the Linnm vs. lolm-
rights of the owner, under the Act of ISOO; he could only restore ho.
himsell'to his rights by cap'ure. The Act of 1820, declares that no M^"k^|-^i -J,^"^
slave shall be emancipated but by Act of the Legislature. Still it a'7''siat.'45a.
has been held, in Linam vs. Johnson, and many subsequent cases,
that if a slave be in any other way emancipated, he may. tinder the
provision of the Act of 1800. be seized as derelict.
Sec. 36. The delivery of the deed of emancipation to the Clerk to Monk^vs. Jenk-
be recorded, is all the delivery necessary to give it legal effect; and m--15.
the dtdivery ta the Clerk is equivalent to recording.
Sec. 37 Tiie Act of 1820, declaring that nn slave should I'creafter cijne^m ^CaW-
be emancipated, hut by Act of tiie Legislature, introduced a new. §,^,6 vs. Single-
and. as I Uiiidv an uitbrtunate provision in our law. All laws unne- ^^["y j^^'l^ '^*'jf^'
cessarily restr.iiiiinc)- the rights of owners are unwise. So far as may '"O.
1 1 I i'.i •. Carmille vs.
be necessary to prcsserve the peace and good order ot the community, Aumr. of Car-
they may be properly rcstraiiied. The Act of ISOO was of that kind. Me"i,,uA'i4''^
The Act of 1820. instead of regulating, cut off the power of emanci- The staievs.
pation. Like all of ils class, it has done harm instead of good. It Rhame, Du(L
lias caused evasions without number. These have been successful,
by vesting the ownership in persons legally capable of holding it,
and thus substantially conferring freedom, when it was legally de-
nied.
Sec. 38. So too. bequests or gifts, for the use of such slaves, were carmillovs
supported under the rule, that whatever is given to the slave belongs n,\[""2'_iHcj}ulj^
to the m-aster. ''^■
Sec. 39. Since the Act of 1820. if a negro be at large, and enjoy vinpardvs. Pas-
freedom for twenty years, he or she is still a slave; as an Actof^**'" ^'"'
Emancipation passed by the Legislature, will not be presumed.
Sec. 40. The Act of 1820. was plainly intended to restrain emanci- Frazin- vs r.--
pation within the State; it was. therefore, held by the Court of Ap-30:.."
peals, that where a testator directed slaves to be sent out of the State,
and there set free, such bequest was good.
Sec. 41. In '41. the Legislature, by a .sweeping Act, declared, 1st. ii s.ai. I'l,
That any bequest, deed of trust, or conveyance, intended to take
effect after the death ol' llic owner, whereby the removal of any slave
or slaves without the State, is secured or intended, with a view to
the emancipation of such slave orslaves, shall be void — and the slave
or slaves' assets, in the hands of any Executor or Administrator. 2d.
That any gift of any slave orslaves, by deed, or otherwise, accompa-
nied by a trust secrit or implied, that the donee shall remove suck
slaves from the State to be emancipated, shall be void, and directed
12 Negro Law of Sourn Caroli^ja.
the donee to deliver up the slave or slaves, or accovmt to the di-strf-
butees. or next of kin, for their value. 3d. Tliat any bequest, gift, or
conveyance of any slave or slaves, with a trust or confidence, either
secret or expressed, that such slave or slaves shall be held in nonunal
servitude only, shall be void, and the donee is directed to deliver the
slave or slaves, or to account for their value to the distributees, or
next ofkin. 4th. That every devise or bequest to a slave or slaves,
or to any person upon a trust or confidence, secret or expressed, for
the benefit of any slave orglaves, shall be void.
rsrmiUe vf. the Sec. 42. This Act, reversingthe whole bodyofthe law, uiiich had
ni'iiie,2dMcMunbeen settled by various deciajons frora 1S30, can have no effect on any
'^^' deed, will, gift, or conveyance, made prior to its passage, 17ih De-
cember, 1841.
Sec. 43. This Act, it has been always said, was passed to control
a rich gentleman in the dispositif>n of his estate. Like everytJiing of
the kind, he defeated it, and the expectations oC his next of kin, by
devising his estate to one of hia kindred, to the exclusion of ail. the
rest-
Sec. 44. My experience as a man, and a Judge, Iea»Is me to con-
demn the Acts of 1820 and 1841. They ought to be repealed, and
the Act of 1800 restored. The State has nothing to fear from eman-
cipation, regulated a.s that law directs it to be. Many a master
knows that he has a slave or slaves, for whom he feels it to be hi."?
duty to provide. As the law now stands, that cannot be done. In a
slave country, the good should be especially rewarded. Who are to
judge of this, but the master? Give him the power cf emancipation,
under well regulated guards, anti he can dispense the only reward,
which either he, or his slave appreciates. In the present state of the
world, it is especially our duty, and that of .-^lave owners, to be just
and merciful, and in all things to be exceptione majori. With well
regulated and mercifully applied slave Jaws, we have nothing to fear
for neirro slavery. Fanatics of our own. or ibrefgn countries, will be
in the condition of the viper biting the file. They, not us, will be the
sulTerers. Let me, however, assure my countrymen, and fellow-slave-
holders, tiiat unjust laws, or unmerciful management of slaves, fall
upon us. and oar institutions, with more withering effect than any-
thing eI.^;L;. I would .see South Carolina, the kind mother, and njis-
tress of all her people, free and slave. To all, extending justice and
mercy. As against our enemies, I would say to her, be just, andfearnot.
Tier sons faltered not on a foreign shore; at home, they will die in
the last treiir'.i, rather than her rights should be invaded or despoiled.
Skc. 45. Free negroes, mulattocs, and mestizoes, are entitled to
all the rights ol" property, and protection in their persons and prop-
erty, by action or indictment, which the white inhabitants of thi."*
State are entitled to.
IV KG HO Law or' Sorrw C'a«olI:'<!.'i. 13
Stc. 4G. Tlicy arc legally sui juris. (The Acl of '22 ^-o.-tM.ci S, 7 s ut. 402.
requires every male free negro, above the age of 15. lo liave. a guar-
ilian, wiio must, be a rei'pectable Ireeliol.ler of the Distrirt. \v!io may
be appointetl by the Clerk.) Not withstanding this ]irovisinii. the
Tree negro is still, as I have s;ii;l sui juris, when of ami above ilic age
ofSl. The guarilian is a mere prottclyr of tiie nvgro. ami a grmran-
tor of his good conduct to the pubiic.
Sec. 47- They may contract, and be contracted v.-ilh. Tiicir mar- r.n\vpr.<:vs. NVw^
riagcs With one anotlier, and even wiili white pcojile. are kegal. — r,2.
They may purchase, hold, and transmit, by descent. 'I'al eMate.— ^j^^'ff/,:;,',^.,^,^^^
They can mortgage, aiiene. or devise tlie same, 'i'hey may sue, and ^'/r^f'pj^^^'v'iT.'
be sued, without noticing theJr respective guardians. rpponul in the
Sec. 43- Tliey are entitled to protect their persons by action, in- v.';'!"N(wm:,ii. I'd
dictment, and the writ of Habeas Corpus, (except tliat ilie writ of Th?S ait'i's.''""'
Habeas Corpus is denied to those who enter the State coiiti^iry to "<^[,'^'^"g7^. ^'
the Act of 1935.) They cannot repel force by force; that is. tl'ey '/jl'i^jj;,;;;,^ ^.q.,
cannot strike a white man. who may strike any of them. l.".i.
, , , , , , , • I • , 1 • 1 /-, Tl't? Sale v.<!. n-
Sec. 49. It lias, bowever. been held, in a case decided in tlie Court scott. i Unit 294-
of Appeals, and not reported, that insolence on the par; of a i'rva ne- i^i.i^7isia'i.293-
gro, would not excuse an Assault and Battery. From that decision, I
dissented, holding as in the Stale vs. Harden, 2d Spcers (note) 155,
•' That words of impertinence or insolence addressed by a free negro
to a white man, would justify an Assault and Battery." -'Asa general
rule, I should say, that whatever, in the opinion of the Jury, would
induce them, as reasonable men, to strike a free negro, should in all
cases be regarded as a legal justification, in an iiidictinent."
Sec. 50. In addition to the common law. remedies, by arlioii ofc sua. crt-
Assault and Battery, and False Imprisonment, and indictments for ihe
same, the Act of '37 iVirnishes another guaranty for Ihe protection of
free negroes, mulattoe?, or mestizoes, by declaring any one convic-
ted of their forcible abduction, or assisting therein, to be liable to a
fine not less than SIOOO, and imprisoimicnt not less ihan 12 months.
Sec. 51. Free negroes, mulattoes. antl mestizoes, cannot be wit- \x-;ijtp yg
nesses or jurors in the Superior Court.s. They can be jurors no .jg",'/"^*' '^''^*^-
where. They cannot even be witnesses in Inferior Courts, witli the f/'J*'"*^?!",,, •,
einerle exception of a Magistrate's and Freeholders' Court, trying i!'2. i3ai muj
. ' 14rh stc. of Act
slaves or free negroes, mulattoes or mestizoes, for criminal o(rence.s ofi740. p. i,. leo.
nnd then without oath. This was however, not always the case, to
the entire extent which I have stated. It was at one time held, that
any person of color, if the issue of a free white woman, is entitled to The Satc vs.
,,.,., ■ ■ ^, Powell, 2 Biev.
give evidence, and ought to be admitted as a witness, in our Courts. U6.
This was predicated of a clear mistake of the civil law maxim of par- The S:aip vs. n.
tus sequitur ventrem. and ol the provision in the 1st section of the ^'^""' in-»ii-273.
Act of 1740. that the offspring should follow the condition of the mo- iiays.i B4l!2r5.
ther. which only mean, that slavery or freedom should be the condi-
14 Xkgro Law of SoUTii Carolina.
t.io-1 of I he olTsprinj:. hut uliere the words tmilatto or mestizo are ever
used ius designating a eias.s, tliey are to be interpreted by their com-
mon acceptation.
P. L. i6&..if.7. ^^c- 5-- It is singular tliat the 13th and Ulh sections of the Act
/- St,it .ioi-ii):i f^'' ^"-1'^- directing who may be witnesses against slaves, free negroes.
&,c.. should have been conlined to free Indians and slaves, who are to
he examined without oatji. From which it would seem, tliat tree
negroes, mulattoes. &c.. might he examined in such cases, as at com-
mon law, upon o.ith. Bat tlie practice under the Act has been uui-
tbrm. as I have before stated it. I think it a very unwise provision,
and course of practice, to examine any witnesses in any court, or case,
without the sanction of an oath. Negroes, (slaves or free) will feel
the sanctions of an oath, with as much force as any of the ignorant
classes of white people, in a Christian country. They ought, too. to
he made to know, if they testify filsely, thev are to be punished for
it. by iiunian laws. The course pursued on the trial of negroes, in
the adduction and obtaining testimony, leads to none of the certain-
ties of truth. Falsehood is often the result, and innocence is thus
often sacrificed on The shrine of prejudice.
Sec. 53. Free negroes, mulattoes. and mestizoes, may make all
r.hnnv.s. I.nppz, necessary affidavits on collateral matters, in cases in the Superior
Harp. Itt-p- 109. „ .',.,, , . . ^
Lourts ni which they may be parties, as on motions oi postponement.
&c. So too. they may in such Court take the oaths under the Insolvent
Debtor's or Prison Bounds Act, and under the Acts of Congress to ob-
tain a pension.
Sec. 54. Free negroes, mulattoes, and mestizoes, (except such as
Th'e'sau^vs^'*'' ^'"'^ proved to the satisfaction of the Tax Collector, to be incapabU^
t,'r::ii.irn.L>ii Hill, of making a livelihood,) are liable to a capitation tax, (fixed bv
ioi. 'ill Pf-c. Act ° ■' ' V .'
ot"'45,iiSiai.343. each tax Act ;) they may make a return personally — or any mem
ber of the family may make a return for the rest; #t- if one be
sick, he or she may make such return by agent. They are liable to
be double taxed for not making a return of themselves.
^"'"/.IF;;"?- ''^ ^Ec. 55. This tax seems to have originated in 1805. The Act o(
s^c. p. 1. The 1833 directs the issuing of executions against free negroes, iiiu'..l-
hum, '/d iliil, toes and mestizoes, vviio may fail to pay the lax. and that under
them, they may be sold for a term, not exceeding one year ; providcvl,
however, that they shall in no instance be sold for a longer term
than may be necessary to pay the taxes due ; but they cannot be
Bold under the double tax executions to be issued against them for
not making returns of themselves. Such executions go against pro-
2cl spr 9iii Art P^rty merely. The constitutionality of the provisinn for the sale of
Con. s. V. free negroes in payment of their taxes, is exceedingly questionable.
Sec. 56. The term ^'free person of colore used in many of our
Acts, since 1840. has given rise to many imperfect and improper no-
tions. Its meaning is confirmed by tlie Act of 1740. and all proper
Nf-.tiHo l.AW or Soirni Cahui.ina. 15
constructions of our cod(;noir to negroes, mithiltce^anrl mestizoes. In
common parlance, it Ims a mucli wider signiiication. hence the (lunger
of its use ; for all who have to execute the Acts of the Legislature
are not learned lawyers, or Judges. The Legisialure ouglit to use
the words of the Act oT 1710. •■ Free uegroi's, mulatlot's and mi'sti-
zucs." and then every one would iiuvc a cer'ain guide to umli-rsiaud
the words used.
Sec. 57. The Act of ';5.3, declares it to he luilawful for any free negro. xc\ of \k]-,-
or person of color, to migrate into this Stale-, oi- to be brought or in- '!:' •'*"^' ' ^"^^'
* troduced within its limits, by land or water.
Sec. 5S. Any free negro, or person of color, not heiiiga seaman on
hoard any vessel arriving in this State, violating this law, shall and may
be seized by any white person. or by the SherilVorConstable of the dis-
trict, an<l carried before any Magistrate of the district, city or parish —
who is authorized to bail or commit the said free negro — and to sum'
inori three freeholders, and form a Court for the trial and e.xamina-
iion of the said free negro, or person of color, within si.\ da}s after
his arrest ; and on conviction, onler liim to have; the Slate — and at
the time of conviction, to commit him to jail, until he can ieavt; the
State, or to release him on bail, not longer tlian 15 days. And. if
after being bailed and ordered to leave the State, the Iree negro or
person of color, shall not leave within 13 da}s, ir having left shall
return, shall be arrested, and on conviction before a Court of one
Magistrate and three fr-ieliolders, lie shall be lial)le to such corporal
punislunent as the court shall order; if after such punishment, the
otTender shall still remain in the State '-longer than the time al-
lowed," (which is. I suppose, the time previously fixed. 15 days ) or
shall return, upon proof and conviction before a court of one Magis-
trate and three freeholders, the free negro or person of color may be
sold, and the proceeds appropriated, one half to the use of the State,
the other half to the use of the informer.
Sec. 59. If the free negro or person of color come into this State, o^i sec, 7 stat.
on board any vessel, as a cook, steward, mariner, or in any otlu:r em-'^''"
ployment, the Sher'lTof the district is to apprehend, and confine in jail,
such free negro or person of color, until the ves.sel be haided ofl"
from the wharf, and ready for sea. The Act provides, that on the
apprehension of any free negro or person of color, on board any ves-
sel, the Sheriir shall cause the Captain to enter into a recognizance
with good and sutH;-,ient security, in the sum of $1000 for each free
negro or person of color, who may be on board his said vessel, that
he will comply with the requisitions of this Act. which are, that he
will, when ready Jor sea. carry away the said free negro or person
of color, and pay the costs of his detension ; but if the Captain be
unable or refuse so to do, he is to be required by the Sherilf to haul
his vessel in the stream, 100 yards distance from the shore, and there
emain until ready for sea. If this be not complied with, in 21 iiours.
3.1 s.
16 Nkgho Law of Suitii C'Aaoi.ixA.
the Cuptiiiii is liable to be indicted, aiul on conviction, is to be fined
not crcccediiit:^ $1000. and imprisoned not exceeding 6 niontlis.
Sec. 6'). Wiienever any IVec ne<^r|-(j or jierson of color, shall be ap-
1. " preheaded a:id committed for corning'- into this State by sea. it is
tiic duty of the SherilF to call upon L:ome ]\Iagistrate to warn the
oiTendcr. never again to enter the State, and at the time of giving
such wariiiiiT. the .Magii^trate i.-s to enter the name of such tree ne-
gro or jUT.son of color, in a book to be kept by the Sheriff, with a
description of his person and occupation, wliicli book is evidence of ^
the warning, and is to be deposited in the Cleric's office, as a pub-
lic record. If the offender shall not depart the State, in case the
Captain shall refuse orneglect to carry him or her away, or having
departeii. shall ever again enter into the State, he or she is liable to
be dealt with, and incur the forfeiture prescribed in the 1st sec.
nrh sec. 7 S:at. Sr:c. 61 If any free negro or person of color, before the passage of
^" tl-.e Act of '35. or since, has lei't. or ,'^iiall leave the State, they are
forever prohibited from returning, under the penalty of the 1st sec.
Sec. 62. The Sth sec. of the Act, excepts from its operation free
Sill sec. 7 Stat. , . , . . , -, ^ . . ,
.I7:j. nesroes and persons ol color, coming into tlie State Irom snipwreck,
but declares them Hable to arre.<t and imprisonment, as provided in
the 2d sec, and to incur all its peuahics. if within thirty days they
shall not leave the Slate.
Sec. 63. The 9lh sec. e.xcepts free negroes and persons of color,
9?ii .sec. 7 Slat. ,1,^ cIkiU arrive as cooks, stewards or mariners, or in other employ-
meat, in any vessel of the United States; or on board any national
vessel of the navies of an}' of the European or other powers in
amity with the United Slates, unless they shall be found on shore,
after being warned by the Sheriff to keep on board their vessels.
The Act does not extend to free American Indians, free .Moors, or
Lascars, or other colored subjects beyond the Cape of Goop Hope,
who may arrive in any merchant vessel.
Sec. 6'1. Free negroes, and fres persons of color, (meaning of
1 nil sec. 7 Stat, course mulattoes and mestizoes,) are prohibited, (unless they have
a ticket from their guardian.) from carrying any fire arms, or other
military or dangerous weapons, under pain of forfeiture, and being
Avhipp(;d at the discretion of a Magistrate and three freeholders.
They cannot be employed as pioneers, though they may be subjected
to military fatigue duty.
Sec. 65. The first, second, third and fifth sections of the Act of
'35, are to my mind, of so questionable policy, that I should be dis-
SdparafeTah Sth posed to repeal thein. They carry with them so many elements of
Bf-c.^istart. Con. jjgpQ^^i ^.jd^ ^^^^^. gigf,>r States, and foreign nations, that, unless they
2<i. sec. 9th art. ,^y ,pg „f paramount necessity, which 1 have never believed, we
Con, s, c. ' -^ . • , ,
chapm:invs, should at oiice strike thetn out. I am airaid too, there are many
Miller, 2d Speers ...... , • i i ' •
709. grave constitutional objections to tliem, in whole or in part.
Nkgro Law or South Caholina. 17
CHAPTER II.
Slaves, their Civil Rights, Liabilities, and Disabilities.
Sec. 1. In a previous part of this digest. I have had occasion in-
cidentally to state the meaning of tiie civil law maxim. '• parlits se-
f/nitur ventrem," and of the provif^ion of the Lst section of tiie Act of
17i0, ■• the offspring to follow the condition of the mother." Both
mean, that the offspring of a slave mother must also be a slave.
Sec. 2. The maxim, as well as the provision of the Act, has a E^jj'r"!)' Brev!
further meaning in relation to property. It determines to whom the v^'gheu, 1"'.^
issue belongs. The owner of tlie mother has the same right in her R^P- (""-S.) 611.
issue, born while she belongs to him. which he has in her. If lor
example, the person in possession is tenant for life, then such an one
takes an estate for life" in the issue. If there be a vested estate in
remainder, or one which takes effect on the termination of the life
estate, the remainder man is entitled to the issue, on the falling in
of the life estate, as he is entitled to the mother. If there be no Oeiger vs^^^^^^
estate carved out beyond the life estate, then as the mother revert.s, 4ia
so also does the issue.
Sec. 3. The estate of a tenant for life in slaves, engaged in mak-^g/gyi^gg?;^?"''^
ing a crop, if he die after the 1st of March, is continued by the Act ^^'^'jyifaiLMS.
of '89, until tl.e crop be finished, or until the last day of December.
in the year in which the tenant dies.
Sec. 4. The issue of a white woman and a negro, is a mulatto ^Jji^'j'*^^;^^^?^;
within the meaning of that term, and is subjected to all the ^isabili- Thesia.e^N^s.
ties of the degraded caste, into which his color tlirusts him. The 275.
rule '^ partus seqidtur ventre ni'^ makes iiim a freeman. The result
of mingling the white and negro blood is to make him a mulatto, and
that carries with it, the disqualifications heretofore pointed out.
Sec. 5. The 1st section of the Act of 1740, declares slaves to be "^
chattels personal.
Sec. 6. The first consequence legally resulting from this provision
would have been without any Act of the Legislature, that the steal- ►-
ing of a slave, should be a larceny (grand or petit) at common law.
Sec. 7. But in 1754, an Act was passed, which, by its first section, P I- 235.
made it a felony without the benefit of clergy, to inveigle, steal and l^J^fJ-l:^.^J^^
dc M'C. 1.
The Sia
carry away, er to hire, aid or counsel, any person or persons to invei-
gle, steal or carry awa}-, any slave or slaves, or to aid any slave in ^'''^'^,'. J'i-'^'- ^
running away, or departing from his master's or employer's service. The siate vs.
Sec. 8. Tliis law, beginning in our Colonial times, and made for B*^ii'"5~6o"'
us by our rulers, given to us by Great Britain, has remained ever The Siate vs
since unchanged, and has been sternly enforced as a most valuable m'MuH.js.s
11. . • 1 1 1 • I • • SiHt6 VS| M Coy f
safeguard to property. Yet public opinion was gradually inclining .^ypeers, 7ii.
to the belief that its provisions were too sanguinary, and that they ]^,',^„'-{i"yro«Ti,
might be safety mitigated when the torrents of abuse j^oured upon the ^ «l'"rs, 129.
3
18 Negro Law of South Carolina.
State, and the Judge presiding on the trial (rora abroad, and the
free States of the Union, on account of the conviction of a worthless
man. John L. Brown, for aiding a slave to run away and depart from
her master's service, stopped the whole viovement of mercy. It is now,
however, due to ourselves, that this matter shoukl be taken up. the
law changed, and a punishment less than death be assigned for the
offence.
Sec. 9. Slaves are in our law. treated as other personal chattefe,
so far as relates to questions of property, or liability to the payment
P. L.379. ^^ debts, except that by the county court Act, (which in this respect
is perhaps still of force.) slaves are exempted from levy when other
P. L. 420. property be shown; and also by the Act of '87, for recovering finea
and forfeited recognizances, the sheriff is directed to sell under the
executions to be issued, every other part of the personal estate, be-
fore he shall sell any negro or negroes.
Sec. 10. In consequence of this slight character which they bear
in legal estimation, as compared with real estate, (vviiich has itself,
in our State, become of too easy disposition.) slaves are subjected to
continual change — they are sold and given by their masters without
^ writing ; they are sold by administrators and executors, and by the
sheriff, (and may even be sold by constables.) These public sales by
administrators, executors or the sheriff, may be for payment of debts
or partition — they (slaves) are often sold under the order of tlie
Ordinary, without any inquiry, whether it be necessary for oayment
Act of 1789, f J 1.' ]• • • rrn- ■ ,1 ,> . , ■ o
p. L. 493. ot debts or division. This continual change ot the relation of mas.
ter and slave, with the consequent rending of family ties among them,
has induced me to think, that if by law, they were annexed to the
freeholds of their owners, and when sold for partition among distri-
butees, tenants in common, joint tenants and coparceners, they
should be sold with the freehold, and not otherwise — it might be a
wise and wholesome change of the law. Some provision, too. might
be made, which would prevent, in a great degree, sales for debts. A
debtor's lands and slaves, instead of being sold, might be sequestered
until, like viimm vadium, they would pay all his debts in execution,
by the annual profits. If this should be impossible on account of the
amount of the indebtedness, then either court, law or equity, might
be empowered to order the sale of the plantation and slaves together
or separately; the slaves to be sold in families.
Seu. 11. Although slaves, by the Act of 1740. arc declared to be
chattels personal, yet, they are also in our law. considered as per-
sons with many rights, and liabilities, civil and criminal.
Sec. 12. The right of protection, which would belong to a slave.
Temient vs. Den , ■■■,,, ,. ' ■ ^ , ' ,
civ. Dudleys as a human being, is by the law of slavery, transferred to the master.
Rep. .SJ. Helton cnioa \. x».i r i • t t
vs. Cusion. 2d Sec. 13. A master may protect the person of his slave from in-
ai.9i,99. jury, by repelling force with force, or by action, and in some cases
by indictment.
Negro Law of Soi;tii Carolina. 19
Sec. 14. Any iniurv ilone to the pcrpoii of his slnvc, he mny re- f'^^ton vs. Mnr-
dress bv nctioii of tresjiass, (*/ et ai-Jiiis. williout lavintr tlie iiiiiirv '•'■''"" vs. Cas-
, ., . . ., , , . " , , , 'o". 2'l Uiii' 'J5.
done, with n per quod sernlinm aoiisit. and lhi.s even though he may Tenuentvs. Hen-
have hired the slave, to anotlier. iiep. ss" ^^ ^
Sec. 15. By the Act of 1821. the murder of a slave is declared to Actso<lS2l,p,
be a felony, wifliout the benefit of clergy ; and by the same Act, to
kill any slave, on sudden heat and passion, subjects the offender, oa
conviction, to a fine not exceeding $500, and imprisonment not ex-
ceeding 6 months.
Sec. 16. To constitute the murder of a slave, no other ingredients The State vs.
are necessary than such as enter into the offence of murder at com-2J]'^i'i^^459;
nion law. So the killuig. on sudden heat and passion, is the same as '^'1^^^^^'^'^^^/^^,^
manslaughter, and a finding by the jury on an indictment for the mur- i^f^P 'f-^-^-
The Siate vs.
derof aslave. of a killing on sudden heat and passion, is good, and sub- Fleming, deci-
jects the offender to the punishment of the act; or on an indictment for spri'ug, it^d! ' '
the murder of a slave, if the verdict be guilty of manslaughter, it is
good, and the offender is to receive judgment under the Act.
Sec. 17. An attempt to kill and murder a slave by shooting at him, ^^^'| 2^^453,
was held to be a mi.sdenieanor. and indictable as an assault with an
intent to kill and murder. This was a consequence of making it
murder to kill a slave.
Stc. IS. The Act of 1841 makes the unlawful whipping or beating n Stat. 155.
of any slave, without sufficient provocation by word or act, a misde-
meanor, and subjects the otfender, on conviction, to imprisonment not
exceeding 6 months, and a fine not exceeding $500.
Sec. 19. This Act has received no judicial construction by our
Court of Appeals. It has been several times presented to me on
Circuit, and I have given it construction. The terms "shall unlaw-
fully whip or beat any slave not under his charge," " without reason-
able provocation." seem to me tjonvertible. For if the beating be
excusable from reasonable provocation, it cannot be unlawful. So if
the beating be either without provocation, or is so enormous, that the
provocation can be no excuse, then it is unlawful. "What is sufficient
provocation by word or deed, is a question for the jury. The ques-
tion is, whether ;is slave owners, and reasonable men. if they had
been in the place of the defendant, they would have inflicted the
whipping or beating which the defendant did '?. If they answer this
question in the affirmative, then the defendant must be acquitted,
otherwise, convicted.
Sec 20. The Acts of 1821 and 1841, are eminently wise, just, and
humane. They protect slaves, who dare not raise their own hands
in defence, against brutal violence. They teach men, who are whol-
ly irresponsible in property, to keep their hands off the property of
other people. They have wiped away a shameful reproach upon us,
that we were indifferent to the lives or persons of our slaves. They
20 Negro Law of South Carolina.
V have had too, a most happy effect on slaves themselves. They know
now, that tlie shield of the law is over them, and thus protected, they
yield a more hearty oliedience and effective service to their masters.
P. L. 173. Sec. 21. By the last clause of the 37th section of the Act of 1740,
it is provided if any person shall wilfully cut out the tongue, put out
the eye, ca!?trate, or cruelly scald, burn, or deprive any slave of any
limb, or member, or shall inflict any other cruel punishment, other
than by whipping, or beating with a horse-whip, covvskin, switch, or
small stick, or by putting irons on. or confining or imprisoning such
slave, every such person shall, for every such offence, forfeit the sum
The state vs of £100 current money, equal to $61 23-100. Tiiis provision it has
Wilson, ciiev. heen held extends to any cruel beating of a slave.
Rep. (So. Ca. ■' *=
Kep.)p. 163. Sec. 22. The provision is humane, but the punishment is too slight
^ for such scandalous offences.
Sec. 23. To secure convictions under this part of the 37th section,
and also where slaves were killed, it was provided, in the 39th sec-
tion, that if a slave suffered in life or limb, or was cruelly beaten or
P. L. 173. abused, where no white person was present, or being present, shall
neglect or refuse to give evidence — in every such case the owner or
person having the care and management of the slave, and in whose
possession or power the slave shall be, shall be adjudged guilty, un-
less he can make the contrary appear by good and sufficient evi-
dence, or shalL by his own oath, dear and exculpate himself. This
The State vs provision has been considered as applicable to trials under the Act of
533. 1821, and a prisoner charged with the murder of a slave, has been
allowed to exculpate himself.
Sec. 24. This is the greatest temptation ever presented to perjury,
and the Legislature ought to speedily remove it.
Sec. 25. The 38th section of the Act of 1740, requires the owners
of slaves to provide them with suffitieiit clothing, covering and food,
and if they should fail to do so, the owners respectively are declared
V }'\^'^:. to be liable to be informed against to the next nearest Justice of the
Peace. (Magistrate now.) who is authorized to hear and determine
the complaint; and if found to be true, or in the absence of proof, if
the owner will not exculpate himself by his own oath, the magistrate
may make such order as will give relief and may set a fine not ex-
ceeding £20, current money, equal to $13 66-100, on the owner, to be
levied by warrant of distress and sale of the offender's goods.
Sec. 26. This provision, it must be remarked, (leaving out the
exculpatory part) is a very wise, and humane one, except that the
penalty is entirely too slight. I regret to say, that there is in such a
Slate as ours, great occasion for the enforcement of such a law, ac-
companied by severe penalties. It miglit be proper, that this matter
should by the direction of an Act, hereafter to be passed, be given in
charge to the Grand Jury, at each and every term, and they be
7 Stat. 411.
Nkci'.o Law of South CAaoLiNA. 21
solemnly enjoined to enquire of ail violalions of duty, on the part of
masters, owners, or employers ol" sIiivls, in I'unur^hing tliem witii
sulRciei t clolliiny. covering, and food; and tiie law might also direct
that every one by them reported, should be ordurr.d instantly to be
indicted.
Sec. 27. It is the settled law of tlii-s State, that an owner cannot Fairrhil.u-s.
abandon a slave needing either medical treatment, care, food or rai- utp.' i^^g.
raent. If he does, he will be liable to any one who may furnish ♦''** ^ij, .p^.j^cii „
same. In Fairchild vs. Bell, that good man, and great Judge, Wilds. Cniun. 2.1
whose early death, South Carolina had good cause to deplore, said,
in the noble language of a Christian and patriot, ''the law would
infer a contract against the evidence of the fact, to compel a cruet and
capricious individual to discharge that duty, which he ought to have
performed voluntarily. For as the master is bound by the most
solemn obligation to protect his slave from suffering, he is bound by
the same obligation to defray the expenses or services of another to
preserve the life of his slave, or to relieve the slave from pain and dan-
ger. The slave lives for his masier''s service. His time, his labor, his
comforts, are all at his ma-ster's disposal. The duty of humane treat-
ment and of medical assistance, (when clearly necessary) ought not
to be withholden.
Sec. 28. By the 22nd section of the Act of 1740, slaves are protec- f-gt^'/o^
ted from labor on the Sabbath day. The violation of the law in this
respect subjects the offender to a fine of £5 current money, equal to
$3 7-100. for every slave so worked.
Sec. 29. By the 44th section of the same Act. oumers or other pei'- Tg^^i^^lg
sons having the care and management of slaves, are prohibited from
working or puttmg the said slaves to work for more than 15 hours
from the 25th March to 25th September, and 14 hours from 25th
September to 25th March, under a penalty of £20 current money,
equal to $13 66-100 for every offence.
Sec. 30. The time limited and allowed for labor in this section is too
much. Few masters now demand more than 12 hours labor from 1st ^
March to 1st October, and 10 hours from the 1st October to 1st March.
This, after allowing suitable intervals for eating and rest, is about as
much as humane prudent masters will demand.
Sec. 31. A slave may, by the consent of his master, acquire and nobson ts. Per-
hold personal property. All, thus acquired, is regarded in law as that OamiUe vsr'Vhe
.-. .1 . Adin'r. of C.ir-
ot the master. n.i.ie. ^ mcMuU
Sec. 32. The only exception is under the 34th section of the Act '^^^\'^\l^
of 1740, which makes goods acquired by traffic and barter for the P^""" J,^^ ^J^'y^j^^
ticular and peculiar benefit of such slave, boats, canoes, or periaugers ^'i
. „ , , . ^ c \ ■ u . „ Norwood VS. Ma-
in the possession of a slave, as his own, and for his own use ; hoises, j.yck,3d Rich.
mares, neat cattle, sheep or goats, kept, raised or bred for the use of^'"*-
any slave, liable to be seized by any one, and forfeited by the judg-
22 Negro Law of South Ca.tolixa.
aient of any Justice (mngistrate) before ■whom tliey maybe brought.
l$rSon"Joia. ^'^''^ ^^- ^'"^'^'" ^''''^ «cciiou, it iuid been htlcly'lield, that nu one
L'lw"Repl.ner. ^ ^^^^ *^"'^'' »" '''« plantiiUon of the master to mnkc such seizure,
lu-wst-rirs 1^0. Sdc. 34. A seizure can therefore otily he niude vvlien a shive is
Clarkt- ads. r > ■
BiHke.3ii.McC. louud. ae owner, ui possession ol tlie contraband articles, out.side of
'^' liis master's plantation.
Sec. 35. This quah'fication may render the iaw harmless. Still it
4 ought to be repealed. The reasonB which led to its enactment have
all passed aw:ty. It is only resorted to. now, to gratify the worst
pas.<5ions of our nature. The right of '.lie master, to provide as com-
fortably as he pleases for his slave, could not be. and ought not to he
abridged in the present slate of public opinion. The hcv m-.<v vory
Well compel a master to furnish his slave with proper, necessary,
wholesome, and abundant raiment and food ; hut certainly no legis-
lator vow, would venture to say to a master, you shall not allow your
slave to have a canoe to fish with, or to carry vegetables to market
or that he should not be allowed to have a horse to attend to his
duties as a stock-minder in the swamps, sax'annas, and pine forests of
the lower part of the State, or tliat a family of slaves .-should not have
a cow to furnish them with milk, or a hog to make for them meat,
beyond their usual allowance. All these are matters between the
master and the slave, in which neither the public nor any prying,
meddling, mischievous neighbor, has an}' thing to do. Experience
and observation fully satisfy me that the first law of slavery is that
of kindness Irom the master to the slave. With that properly incul-
cated, enforced by law. and iudiciously applied, slavery becomes a
SMoultrie-s ^ ., ' , • . . , , n , . ., ■
Mem. 3:),v-3oS. family relation, next in its attachments to tnat of parent and child. —
It leads to instances of devotion on the part ol the slave, which would
do honor to the heroism of Rome herself.* With such feelings on
our plantations, what have we to fear from fanaticism? Our slaves
would be our sentinels to watch over us ; our defenders to protect our
firesides from those prowling harpies, who preach freedom, and steal
slaves from their happy homes.
Sec. 36. A slave cannot contract, and be contracted with. This
principle was broadly laid down by the Constitutional Court, in a
Greccvs. Tiiom-case in which a note was given by the defendant to the plaintiff's
(xMi'u33io' '^''' slave by name, and the plaintitT brought the action upon it. From
this decision. Judge Cheves dissented, upon. I presume, the ground
that the master had the right to affirm the contract, and make it his
own, and consider it for his own benefit. In it. I think, he was right, on
• In 1S13, February, Professor Chas. Dewar Simmons on his return to Columbia from
Charleston, found the Haughabook Swamp entirely over the road. In attempting to cross
on horseback, he WIS wished otr the road and separated from his horse. He first succeeded m
reaching a tree, then consirucied a raft of rails tied with his comfort. Three times his slave
Marcus, swnm in to his rescue. His master told him he could uot help him, save himself; but
he persisted until both perished together.
tract iiiarriiicc.
The
in ])oint of law.
tiie
negro, is couculjii
lage
Negro Law of Solth Caroli.-ha. 23
the principle that the acquisition of the slave is his niastci's. and that y^
a shive's contract is lil<c an infant's witii an atlnlt. It is not linaiing
on the shive. but it" the master alhrni it. ihe ilefeiiJant cannot he ilis-
charged.
Sec. 37. A .«lave cannot even leirally
marriage of sucii an one is morally good,
union of slave and slave, or slave and I
m&rehj.
Sec. 3S. The consequence is. that the issue of a marriage between
a slave and a free negro, are illegitimate, and cannot inherit from
father or mother, who may be frei-.
The hardship of such a case, where the issue of free negroes mar- *^
ried to one another can inherit, might very well lead to a judi-
cious enactment to remedy it.
Sec. 39. A slave cannot testify, except as against another slave, jsand i-)tii sec.
free negro, mulatto, or mestizo, and that without oath. p. Ll^ifio-./'. '
Sec. 40. The propriety of this is «ou; so doubtful, that I think the ^ *"''''• ^*^'"'--
Legislature would do well to repeal this provision, and provide that
slaves in all cases against other slaves, free negroes, mulattoe.s. and
mestizoes, may be examinod on oath.
Sec. 4L By the Act of 1834. slaves are prohibited to be taught ^cts of '.•J4.p I3.
to read or write, under a penalty (if a white person rnay otiend) |'-jjY^.|.|.^yf,.j(j_
not exceeding $100 fine and six months iniprisonmeiit. if a -free
person of colore not exceeding 50 lashes and a fine of .$50.
Sec 42. This Act grew out of a feverish state of excitement pro- k-
duced by the impudent meddling of persons out oi'the slave States,
with their peculiar institutions. That has. however, subsided, and I
trust we are now prepared to act the part of wise, humane and fear-
less masters, and that this law, and all of kindred character, will be
repealed. When we reflect, as Christians, how can v>e justify it, that
a slave is not to be permitted to read the Bible? It is in vain to say
there is danger in it. The best slaves in the State, are those who
can and do read the Scriptures. Again, who is it that teach your
slaves to reatl ? It generally is done by the children of the owners.
Who would tolerate an indictment against his son or daughter for
teaching a favorite slave to read ? Such laws look to me as rather
cowardly. It seems as if we were afraid of our slaves. Such a feel-
ing is unworthy of a Carolina master.
Shx. 43. The 2d section of the Act of 1S34, prohibits the employ- 7 Siai. 4CS-4W.
meni of a slave, or free person of color, as a clerk or salesman, under
a penalty not exceeding $100 fine, and impri.sonmt nt not exceedmgO
months.
Sec. 44. The 1st section of the Act of 1800. prohibits the a.-^sem ? Stit. 440..1.
blies of slaves, free negroes, mulattoes or mestizoes, with or without
white persons, in a confined or secret place of meeting, or willi gates
^■i Negro Law of South Carolina.
i^'troTAct'o'!']!*! °'' ^^°^^ "•' ^"^'^ P''^^*^ "^ meeting barred or bolted, so as to prevent
iiS.ai. u9-t;o. the free ingress and egress to and from the same ; and Magistrates,
Sheriffs. ]\IJlitia OtFicers and Officers of the patrol, are authorized to
enter, and if necessary, to hrealt open doors, gates, or windows, (if
resi.sted) ami to disperse the shives, free negroes, mulattoesor mesti-
zoes, found there assembled. And tlie officers mentioned in the Act
are authorized to call such Ibrce and assistance from the neighbor-
hood, as tliey may deem necessary ; and may, if they think necessary,
impose corporal punishment on such slaves, free negroes, mulattoes,
or mestizoes, and if within Charleston, they may deliver them to the
Master of the Work House, who is required to receive them and inflict
any such punishment as any two Magistrates of the City may award,
not exceeding 20 lashes. If out of the City, the slaves, free negroes,
mulattoes and mestizoes found assembled contrary to this Act, may
be delivered to the nearest Constable, who is to convey them to the
nearest Magistrate, and to inflict under liis order, punishment not
7 S!at. 441. exceeding 20 lashes.
7Stat 443 ^'^^' ^^' The 2d section of the Act of 1800, which prohibited meet-
Bell ac's. Gra- injTs for the religious or mental instruction of slaves, or free negroes,
ham, 1 N. and =■, °. ,^,.. ,>, ' r , ■ '
'Mc.-zis. mulattoesor mestizoes, beiore the rising ot the sun, or alter the going
down of the same, was very properly altered by the Act of 1803, so
^„ as to prohibit the breakinff into any place of meeting, wherein the
13th sec. of Pa- r _ j r a?
troi Act oi 'JO, raembers of any religious society are assembled, before 9 o'clock at
11 Slat 60 J => J
nioht. provided a majority are white people. After 9 o'clock at night,
or before, if the meeting be composed of a majority of negroes,
(although white persons may be present,) it may be dispersed by
Magistrates, Sheriffs, Militia Officers, and Officers of the patrol, and
slaves, free negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes may be punished not
l_N. and Mcc. exceeding 20 lashes.
^^- Sec. 46. In the case of Bell ads. Graham, it w-as held that these
Acts could not justify a patrol in intruding on a religious meeting, in
the day time, in an open meeting-house, where there were some white
people, although there might be a majority of negroes.
Sec. 47. The 2d section of the Act of 1800, and the amendatory
V Act of 1803. are treated now, as dead letters. Religions meetings of
negroes, with only one or more white persons, are permitted by night
as well as by day. They ought to be repealed. They operate as a
reproach upon us in the mouths of our enemies, in that we do not
afford our slaves that free worship of God, wliich lie demands for all
his people. They, if ever resorted to, are not for doing good, but to
gratify hatred, malice, cruelty or tyranny. This was not intended,
and ought to have no countenance or support, in our Statute law.
Sec. 48. The 40th section of the Act of 1740, regulates the appa-
rel of slaves, (except livery men or boys) and prohibits them from
weurjng any thing finer, other or ol' greater value than negro cloth,
Negro Law of South Carolina. fi$
duffils, kerseys. o.sn;iburgs, blue linen, check linen, or coarse garlix, v. L. 172.
or calicoe.s, checked cuiton.s or Scotch phiius; ;uul declares all gar-
ments of finer or otiier kiml. lo bo liable lo seizure by any constable
as forfeited.
Sec. 49. This section has not. witliin my knowledge, ever been ^
enforced. Indeed, if enforced now. it would make an immense booty
lo some hungry, unjjrincipied .seeker of spoils. It ought lo be
repealed.
Sec. 50. The 42(1 section of the Act of 1740, prohibits a shive or p j 1-4
slaves from renting or luring any house, room, store or plan-
tation, on his own account. Any person offending against this Act,
by renting or hiring to a slave or slaves, is liable to a fine of £20 cur-
rency, equal to S13 66-100, to be recovered on complaint made to any
magistrate, as is directed in the Act for the trial of email and mean P- L. 2I3.
causes.
Sec. 51. Tin- 43.1 section of the Act of 1740. which declares it to p ^ 174.
be unhnvful for more than 7 male slaves in company, without some
white person accompanying them, lo travel together any of the pub-
lic roads, and on doing so. makes it lawful for any white person to
take them up and puni.«h them by whipping, not exceeding 20 stripes,
is. I am afraid of force, unless it be considered as impliedly repealed
by the restriction on the patrol, to whip slaves found "'•"t^ "'' '-lieir|.^^','i,j8e'^g'j[^|*^|
■owner's plantation without a ticket in writing.
Sec. 52. The occasion for such a law has passed away. Public 1^
opinion has considered it unnecessary, and like every useless severity,
mercy has condemned it. It would be well that it should be repealed.
Sec. 53. The Act of 1819. 5lh section, repeals the 23d section of^ctsofisig p.
■ the Act of 1740. The law now. make.-? it unlawful for any slave. ^^^^ ,53
except in the company and pre.=ence ofsrome white person, '« carry or T'^'eStajevs.^^^
make use of any fire arms or other offensive weapon, without a ticket 201.
or license, in vvritinir. from hi.s owner or overseer; or unless such
slave be employed to limit and kill game, mischievous birds or beasts
of prey, within the limits of his master's plantation, or unless such
slave shall be a watchman in and over his owner's fields and planta-
tion. If this law be violated, any white person finding a slave carry-
ing or using a gun or other offensive weapon, without a ticket or
license in writing, from his owner or overseer, or not used to hunt
game,(fcc. witliin the plantation, or as a watchman in the same, may seize
and appropriate to his owti use, such gun or offensive weapon. But
to make the forfeiture complete and legal, the party making the seiz-
ure, must, within 48 hours after the seizure, go before the next Magis-
trate, and make oalh of the manner of takmg, and then, after 48
hours notice lo the owner or overseer having charge of the slave, by
summons to shew caiue why tne articles should not be condemned,
(the service of the summons being proved on oath.) the ?vlagistrate
4
26 Nkgho Law of South Carolina.
may, by ccrlificatc under his liar.d and seal, (if 1h> Ijc safipfied thaf
the arms liavc bcoa seized according lo the Act of 1819) declare tlie
same lo be forfeited.
7Stat.4C2. Sec. 54. The 6tii section of the Act of 1S22 dcrhuTs it to he unlaw-
ful to hire to male slaves their own time ; and if ihis law be violated,
the slaves are declared liable to seizure and forlVitnre .-.ccording to
the provisions'of the Act in the ca?e of sin ves coming inlothi.s Slate.
Sec. 55. Whether this provision relates to the 4ili section of the
Act ofl816. 7 Stat. 453, or to the 5th section of the Act of 1503, 7
Stat, 450, is indeed somewhat uncertain. The Act of 1816. and all
its provisions were repealed by the Act of 1818. 7 Stat. 458. The
Act of 1803, seems to be unrepealed, and hence, iherefore, I presume
the proceeding to forfeit must be under it. By it tlie proceeding is
to be in the name of the State, in the nature of an action oi" detinue.
P.L. 172. Sec. 50. The latter part of the 36lh section of tlie Act. of 1740,
declares that any master, or overseer, who shall permit or suffer his or
their negro or other slave or slaves, at any time to beat drums, blow
horns, or use any otlier loud inslruir.enis. or whosoever shall sufier
and countenance any public nieeiing or fcaslings of strange negroes
or slaves, on their plantation, shall forfeit £10 current money, equal
to $6 88-100 upon- conviction, orproot, provided inibrmation or suit be
commenced within one month.
Sec. 57. This provision is one so utterly unnecessary, that tlie
sooner it is expunged from the Statute hook, tiie better. Indeed it is
not only unnecessary, hut it is one under wiiicii most ma.«ters will be
liable, whether they will or not. Who can keep his slaves Irom
blowing horns or using other loud instruments?
7 Stat. 450. Sec 58. The 2d section of tJie Act of 1S03. prohibits the importa-
tion of any negro, mulatto, mestizo, or other per.son of color, bond or
free, from the Bahama, West India Islands, or South America, and
also from other parts, of all of those persons who liave been resident
in any of the French VV^est India Islands.
Sec. 59. The 3d section provides that no male slave above the age
of 15 years .shall be brought into this State from any of our sister
States, unles.^: the person importing such negro shall produce and file
in the o.Tice of the Clerk of the District where the person so import-
in"- m;iy reside, a C(;rtificate under the hands of two magistrates, and
the seal of tlie Couit of the District where the slave so imported resi-
ded for the last twelve months previous to the date of the certificate,
that he is of good character, and has not been concerned in any insur-
rection, or ndtellion.
Sec. CO. Under the 5lh section, if slaves be brought into this State
in violation of the provi>ions of the 2i;d and 3d senioiis. they are de-
clared to he forfeited, one half to ihe State, the ntiier lialf to the
informer: to he recovered in the name of the Slate, by action in the
Niicno L.wv oy South Carolina. 27
rtatiire ofPcnacfioii olMctiimo. in wliifli it is not necessary to prove
that the dcleiKhirii. was in po.sses.sion. at tlic corainencenient ol' the
suit, and the iiilormer is a competent witness.
Sec. 61. Tiio 3d sectioii ofliiis Act has been so often viobted. tliat
it coa'.d iiardiy he enforced at present, without great injustice. Still ^
liic provision is a wise o:u). No greater curse lias ever been inflicted
on South Carolina, than the pouring upon iier of the criminal slaves
ol'our sister States. It might be well i'or the Legislature, in revising
(which I hope (hey will speedily do) our Code Aoi/', to re-enact this
provision. '
Sec. 62. The Art of '31 makes it unlawful to bring into this State g,.^ g,^ - Stat, '
•oritrinally. or to bring b,u-k into tins State, after being curried out of^?^-
It, any slave iVom any portvjr plac^' in the West Indies, or Mexico, or
any^iart of South America, or from Europe, or from any sister State,
situated to the north of the Potomac River, or city of Washington,
under the penalty of $1000, for each slave, to be recovered ia an
action of debt, and lorfeiture of the slave.
This provision does not extend to runaway slaves.
Sec. 63. By the Act of '47, any slave carried out of this State, in
the capacity of Steward, Cook. Fireman. Engineer, Pilot, or Mariner, ^j^^^j^'^y
on board any steamer, or other vessel trading uMth any port or place
in the Island of Cuba, may be brought back into this State, if he may
not in his absence have visited some other port or place in the West
Indies other than the Island of Cuba, or a port or place in Europe,
Mexico, Son'th America or any State north of the river Potomac and
Cily of Washingt-on.
Sec. 64. The 7t!i section of the Act of '35, providing for the con-^^^ ^^^j^^g
demnation and forfeiture of a slave l)y a Court of a Magistrate and Simmcms.et al.
Freeholders, was declared by llie whole Court of Errors, in the State
vs. Simmons, et ah, to be uncoi).?titutional. How the forfeiture
declared in the 6th section is to be^ carried nut, is somewliat doubt-
ful. I suppose it might be a part of the judgment on the indictment
and conviction of the owner for bringing back a slave, which he hail
carried to the prohibited places. The whole provision had better l>e
rep<;aled. Slaves visiting free States find nothing to enamour them
of negro freedom there: in general, after all the labors of lore of our
negro-loving brethren of the free States, they, in general, return to
their Southern homes, better slaves. Forfeitures, too, may occur
under this Act. which none of us would bear. Every servant, (negro,
mulatto, or mes)izo.) who ha? been in Mexico during the war. and
who has returned, is liable to be forfeited, and his master to pay a
fine of $1000. Could the law be enforced in such a case ? We have
nothing to fetir, if the whoh; Act of '35 be repealed. It ought to be. ^
for no law should stand, which public opinion, in many cases, would not
suffer to b.e enlorced. Indeed there are few. very fi.MV cas'"5. where the
28 Negro Law of South Caroli:<a.
Act of '35 could meet with public favor. I speak unreservedly, for I
am talking to friends, slave-holders — citizens of a State, whom I
love, and whom I would have to be, '•witiiout ftur. and without
reproach."
CHAPTER III.
Ci'imcs of Free Nesroes, Mulattoes, Mestizoes, and Stares — Their
Punishment and Mode of Trial, including the Law as to Runaicays
and the Patrol.
Sec. 1. The general rule is, that whatever would be a crime at
common law, or by Statute, in a white person, is also a crime of the
same degree, in a free negro, mulatto, mestizo or slave. In some
instances the punishment has been allered. in otiurs m-vv otiences
have been created. There are also cases, in which the slave or free
negro, mulatto or mestizo, from his status, would be guilty ot a higher
crime than a white per.son would be. under ti.e same tircumstanres.
The State vs. These Will be tried to be fully noticed, in tin's digest. Whenever a
Crank, ad Bail, slave commits a crime by the command, and coercion of the master,
mistress, owner, employer, or overseer, it is regarded as the crime of
the master, mistress, owner, employer, or overseer; and the slave is
not criminally answerable.
Sec. 2. A free negro, mulatto or mestizo, cannot lawfully strike
any white person, even if he be first stricken, and therefc-e. if he
commit homicide of a white person, generally, he cannot be guilty of
manslaughter ; he is either guilty of murder, or altogether excused,
/ suppose if one without authority to govern or control a free negro,
mulatto, or mestizo, were in the act of endangering life orl'imb of the
free negro, mulatto, or mestizo, and he. to defenil hinjself and save
life or limb, were to slay his assailant, it might be excusable. A free
negro, mulatto, mestizo, or slave, slaying one of the same status.
would be guilty of murder, manslaughter, or be excused, se defen-
dendo. as in the case of white people, at common law.
p J JC7 Sec. 3. The 17th section of the Act of 1740 declare? a slave who
7 Siat. 402. shall be guilty of homicide of any sort upon any white person, except
it be bij misadventure, or in defence of his master or other person,
under whose care and government such slave shall be, shall, upon
convix;tion, suiTer death.
Nhgro Law of Soctu Carolin-a. 29
This secmy to i-oiiflict in tionic di-gri'o, witli wluit it; s;iiJ. 3il rliMp.
isl SfClioii. Still, I thiiik svliut is atiinm d Ihrrc is l;i\v. A lionjii :..►•
committed by the commuiui ami ccmtciuii oI'iIil' master is not one ul'
which the sUive is guilty, but the master is aioni' oiiilty ol'it.
Sec. 4. By the 24th section of the Act of 1740; it is proviikil. if ay. i. ico._
slave, shall grievoucily wound, maim, or bruise any white person, unless
it be by tlie command, and in the defence of tiie person or property
of the owner, or other person having the care or government of such
slave, 6uch slave on conviction, shall suffer death.
Sec. 5. The 18lh section of the Act of 1751 (which having altered 7 siat. 12.^
the Act of 1740, is by the Act of 1783, continuing the Act of 1740. ^;^Ve^4^.' kl/ho:
continued, instead of the parts altered) gives to the Courts trying J^^^^^-^j'^-Jj;' '.J" °"'
any negro or other slave, for any otTence under the Acts of 1740 or S: rob.
1751.' where any favorable circumstances appear, the power to miti-
gate the punisliment by law directed to be inflicted.
Sec. 6. The meaning of the words grievously wound, maim, or
bruise, has never received any precise adjudication. In tiie case of
the State vs. Nicholas, a portion of the Court indicated their oj)inion
to be, that to grievously wound, maim, or bruise, meant such an
injury as might endanger life or limb. This is. I think, the true
meaning. The subject, before '48 passed under my review, in the
unfortunate case, in York, which led to the passage of the Act of '43.
In tliat case, the lady on vvho.=:e body the outrage was attempted, was
seriously bruised, yet so, as in no way to endanger lii'e. I thought,
and so decided, tiiat the slave was not guilty of a capital felony.
Sec. 7. By the Act of 1843 any slave or/refi yjerso/i o/"fo/o/'. (mean- ^ ^i^, 05,3.
inf any Iree negro mulatto or mestizo) who shall commit an assault
and battery on a wiiite woman, with intent to commit a rape, shall
on conviction, suffer death, without the benefit of clergy.
Sec. 8. The 24th section of the Act of 1740. declares any slave, p. 1, leq.^
who shall strike any person, unless it be hy the command and in
defence of the person and property of the master, or other person
having the care and government of such slave, for the 1st and 2nd
offence, liable to such punishment as the Court may think fit, not
extending to life or limb, and for the 3d offence, to the punishment of
death. Under the 4th section, and this of the 3d chapter, it ought
to be remarked, that that portion of the 24th section of tlie Act of
1740, which exempts a slave from punishment for acting in obedience
to his master and in his defenc(^ requires more to make out his
exemption than the Act intended. For it not only requires that the
striking, wounding, maiming, and bruising, should be under the com-
maiiil of the master, but also in defence of his person or property. Ei-
ther the command of the owner or other person having the careorgov-
ernnaent of the slave, the defence of his person or property should be
enough. The laic ought to be so amended. Any slave seeing a white
30 Ni;guo Law cv Bwvu Cakolina.
tnan nhout to knock his mastt-r down, or in tb.e act, of s^tcaling hlfi
propcM'v. ouglit not to wait for a comnjand — his blow in dcl'ence.
unJ'.T sucU circnnistanccp, is good and ought to be lawf'i.l.
p 1,. \cr. Slc. 9. Tiie 16th sectlDli Of the Act of 1740. provides that any
' ^ ="•"•'''' KJavo. frc(» nt^gro. midatto. Intlian. or mestizo, who .shaJI u-ilfully and
vialirious!^. liurn or div^troy tiny stack of rice. corn, or oilier grain, of
the produce, growlii. or inaiiiifacturc of tiiis State, nr shall wiifidly
and n)a!iciou!?ly .set fire to, burn or destroy any tar kiln, barrels of
pitch, tar. itirpenthie or ro.-^in, er any other goods ot commodities, the
growth, produce or manufnCrure of this State, or shall feloniously
steal, take, or carry awr.y any slave, being the property of another,
izith intent to carry suck strive out of the State, or shall Avilfnily and
maliciou.siy poi.-^on. or adniinister any po!.son to any person, freeman.
<\'oii!ari. servant, or «iave, shall suifer ('eath. Ovei' these and all
other olTences. lor which, under the Act of 1740, death may be the
pXiniyhnient. the Court, under the ISth sediun of the Act of 1751,
mentioned in the 5tli section of the 3d Chapter of thi.s Digest, have
the power of mitigaiing the puni.shment. The term Indian, used in
this 16fh section of the Act of 1740. means either a freed Indian, (one
who was; once a .s ave) or a:i Indian not in amity with this govern-
ment, (fiee 3d section of Lst Chap.) In the case of the State vs.
l_x. .inJ McC. wiiN'te -and Sadler, it was held tlr.it the Act of 1754, making it a
felony without clergy, to inveigle, steal, or carry away any slave,
applied to s^laves. as well as to free people, and hence therefore, that
it repeals that provision of the Act of 1740, which made itrapital. on
■the part of a slave, - to steal, take, or carry away any slave, the pro-
perty of another. ir/Y/j //i/r'??; to cinry such slave out of the State. I
tnink the decision very questionable. For in 17S3, the Act of 1740
was continued as law. without noticing this supposed repeal of 1754.-
Ittiie Act of '54. ii this respect, and not the Act of '40, is to govern
slaves, then every slave aiding anotiier in ruiniing away, is liable to'
be haiiiicd. This certainly is rather a hard consequence.
P. L. 167. 7 Stat. Si:c. 10. By the 17th suction of the Act of 1740, and the 14th
390, 424, 425. pj,^.jj^„ of ^j^g ^j., ^f 1751, ameiidii-ig the same, any slave, who shall raise
or attempt lo raise an irsurrection, or shall delude and intice any
slave to run away and leave this State, and shall have actually pre-
pared provisions, arms, ammunitioii, horse or horses, or any boat,
canoe, or other vessel, whereby the guilty intention is manifested,
is liable, on conviction, to be hanged. Unless the Court, from favora-
able circumstances, should mitigate the sentence, or from several
being concerned, should be disposed to select some, on whom they
would iiillict ether corporal punishment.
p. i.cO'bsfc c;;j,(, II .^ slave who shall iiarbor, conceal or entertain any slave
" ;hat shall run awav, or shall be charged or accused with any crinii-
Nkc;ko Law ok South Cauomna. 31
nal matter, .shrill siiilVr sncli rnri'ora! [■.u^i^rll^.u■llt. not i-xlt ndiiiir to
lifo or liial). a.s tin; Court, may ilircct.
Si:r. 12. A Cree negro, niulatio, or niesti/o wlio in 29ili s(^r;ion ""'I' ^^.^of i-ci. p-
the A.-t, of 1740. was lia'ole to a i)eiialty lor harliorin.Lr a ^-'lavc. is Uy jl'. |' •^^^''-^i'^'^.
the Ant. of ISil. (vvliic-li n;)tT.ilp.s as an iaiplicl rc|)cal ) if lie or f^\\r Uu.'ni^'uuVl. loi.
harbor, conceal or entertain any I'nyilivt; or run away slave, liahlc
on conviction to such coi-jiorai punisiiment. not exlemling lo lile or
limh, as the Court may in their ili.scretion think fit.
S.-^c. 13. TheSOth siM-.tionof the Act. of 1740. pro!ii!)its any f:lave i'J-^i^^i^.._;^i.
rosidinix in Charleston (Voni buying selling, dealing, tralficking, bar-
tering, exchiuiizing or n.-^ing coninierce ibr any troods. ware.-: firovi-
.sions, irrain, victual.s of any sort or ki;ul whatsoever. (c:;ce[)t slave."?
who, with a ticket in writing iVoni their owner or emj)!oyer. may
buy or sell iVuit, (ish and garden stuli' or may bo employed as por-
ters, carters, or fishermen — or may purchase a.ny thing Ibr the use
of their masters, owners, or other person, win may have the care
•and government of such slaves in open market.) All goods wares,
provisions, grain, victuals or commodities, in winch smdi traliic by
slaves is carried on, are liable to be seized and tbrfeited. a.nd may
be sued for and recovered before any Magistrate of Charleston, one
half to the informer, the other half to the j^oor of the parish of St.
Philip's, and tlie Magistrate by whom the forfeiture is adjudged, is
autliorized to inflict corporal punishment, on the slave engaged in .,,^. ^^^ ^^, ^,
such traffic, not exceeding twenty stripes. The lUst section prohibits i^^j, 7 S(;i;.4<j9.
any slave belonging toCharleston, from buying any thing tosell a.gain.
or from selling any thmg on their own account, in Charleston. All
ffoods, wares and merchandij^c purchased or sold in contravention of
this section, are liai)le to be forft'ited by the judgment of any .Magis-
trate of Charleston, one half to the use of the poor, tiic other half
to the informer.
Sec. 14. If anv shive. (without the consmand of hi^ or her master, p. l. 275.
mistress, or overseer, evidenced by a ticket in wrilinL^) shall shoot
or kill between the 1st of January, and the last day ol" Jui)- in each
year, any fawn, (lieer.) or any buck, (deer.) between the Isl of
Sept. and last day of Oct.. and between the 1st day of March and
last day of April, such slave, upon conviction before a Magistrate,
by the oath of a sutncient witness, or the confession of the said
slave, shall, by order of the Magistrate, receive 20 lashes on the
bare back, unless security be given for the jjayment within one
month of the fine imposed by the Act. on white or I'ree persons £2
proclamation money, equal to $6 44-100 lor each f iwn ';r buck killed.
P L 407 40S,
If the slave shall kill a doe, between the 1st day of .Marcli. and the y,i iind-ih sic!
1st of Sept., without the consent and privily of the owner or over- •*'^' "' '"'•'■
seer, such slave is liable, on conviction befare a Magistrate and lour
32 Negro Law ok South Caholixa.
fi-ef'!iol.lers (sworn urcordiiig to the 4tli .section) to receive 39 lashes
Oil the hiire hack.
vS[:c. 1.5. A shive detected in fire hunting, or who shall kill in the
P. L. 497. iii;i!it-iinie. an)' deer, hors" or neat cattle, or stock of any kind, not
tlie properly of lii.s master or owner, witliout tlie privity or consent
of tlie ovvju-r or over.-H'.er of the .said shwe. sucli shive, on conviction
before a Court of one IVlagi^slrate and four freehoUiers. sworn to the
best of their judgment, without partiahty. favor or atl'ection. to try
the cause now depending between the iState, Plaintitf. and B. the
slave of C. Del'eiidant, and a true verdict give, according to evi-
dence, is liable to receive 39 lashes on tiie bare back.
Sec. 16. Any slave, who. not in the presence and by the direction
of so!no wliile person, sliall mark or brand any horse, laare, gelding,
colt li'ily a.-s. mule. bull. cow. steer, ox. calf sheep, goat or hog,
stc.'Act oi 'S9. is liable lo be wliippcd no t exceeding 50 lashes, by the order of any
Miieislrale before whom the otfence shall be proved by the evidence
of any white person or slave.
Sr.c. 17. The Act of 1834. authorizes the Court, before which a
Actsof '31,11. 12. slave or i'rvc person of color is convicted of any otfeiice. not capital,
lo punish the otfender by imprisonment, provided this Act shall not
abolish the punishments which were then by law imposed. Uader
tliis Act. the ciuestioji will arise. wlu>ther the punishment by inspri-
sonment is cumulative ; or whether, when resorted to it is in place
of the other punishment to which the ofl'ender is liable. I incline to
the npiiuon. that the punishment is not cumulative, but may be
sub.stituted for other punishment, at the discretion of the Court.
TheSratp. px re- Sec. 18. A slave guilty of insolence to a white person, maybe
I's'^'iSit'"" tried by a Court of a Magistrate and freeholders, and punished at
M-riMn'o'^"'^ '•'' •''' li''"'' ''ii ' ''If ex''' I li 1 r to life or limb.
■Si'oiJ- ' Skc. 19. •■ No free person nf color.'''' (meamng. I suppose. '• no free
negro mulatto or mestizo '•) or slave, can keep, use or employ a still,
or other vessel, on his own account, for the distillation of spirituous
Actnfi'.Ti, 1st liquors, or he employed or conci'riied in veiulinir spirituous liquors oi'
and 2(J sec. n. 13. , . , . . '. , • . i .■ • i i
any knid or (lescrii)lion and on conviction thereol. is regarded a.s
iiuilty of a misdemeanor, and is to be pumslied not exceeding fifty
lashes, at the discretion of the Court; and the still or other vessel
is forfeited, and the saine is to be sold under an execution to be issued
by the Maaristrate granting the warrant to apprehend the free negro
or slave, and the proceeds of the sale are directed to be paid to the
Commissioners of the Poor.
Artof3t 4tl,spc- ^'•'^- "'^- ^ ^'''^'•^' or free person of color, (meaniufr as is above sng-
r- 13. gested) who shall comn)it a trespass, whicli would subject a white
person to a civil action and for which no other penalty is prescribed,
is reunrded as o-nilty of a misdemeanor and is to be punished at the
discretion of the Court tr) ing him. not extending to life or limb. A
Nkgho Law or South Cakoli.va. 33
question will arise under lliir^ Act, whether any civil remeHy by way
of trespass, can now be hiul against any negro, nuilalto, or mestizo,
for a trespass by liim or her committed ?
Sec. 21. A free negro, nuihitto, mestizo, or slave, being a distiller, jv,.) „f.;}i_ jj^t
vendor, or retailer of spirituous liquors, who shall sell, exchange, give V""^'''^''' "^^
or otherwise deliver spirituous liquors to a slave, except upon the ii Stat. 469.
written and expresvS order of the owner, or person having the care of
the slave, shall, upon conviction, (if a slave) be whipped not exceed-
ing fifty lashes ; if a free negro, mulatto, or mestizo, be also whipped
not exceeding fifty lashes, and fined not exceeding S50; one half o^f/'g^aJlti
the fine to the informer, the other half to the State.
Sec. 22. A slave, or free per.-^on of color, (meaning as before sug- ^ct of'.'53,2d
gested) convicted of a capital otlence, i^ to be punished by hanging j^^*^- P-*'-
i-f convicted of an olfence not capital, a slave is to be punished hyp. 40.
whipping, confinement in the stocks, or treadmill, or as is prescribed,
by the Act of '34, (see ante 1st sec.) imprisonment may be resorted
to. A free negro, mulatto, or mestizo, is liable to the same punish-
ment, or may be fined.
Sec. 23. In all parts of the State, (except in Charleston,) slaves Act of '.39, sec,
or free persons of color, (meaning as suggested ante 19th sec.) are to ^^f,p"g ^,~g ^g
be tried for all oflfences by a Magistrate and five freeholders; l-lic ^iJ^Jj."^^['^jj j^
freeholders arc to be obtained by the Magistrate, who issues the war- i*i^-
rant, summoning eight neighboring freeholders, out of whom the pri-
soner, (if he be a free negro, mulatto, or mestizo) or the owner or
overseer, (if a slave) rr.ay select five to sit upon the trial, and upon
good cause shewn against nny freeholder, to be determined by the
Magistrate, another sliall be substituted in his place. If the prison-
er, the owner, or overseer, should refuse or neglect to make the selec-
tion of the five freeholders to sit, the Magistrate may himself make
the selection.
Sec. 24. In Charleston, (including the Parishes of St. Philips and Gthsec. Actof
St. Michael's) slaves, tree negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes, are 'ia- isVh'sfc! Actof
ble to be tried for capital off'ences by two Judicial Magistrates and |;.'; [';, ■^'!:l3fl^ sec.
five freeholders, or slaveholders, who. I suppose, ought to be obtained ■J-S- i' '-^O-
as directed — ante 22n(i section — and in such cases there must be a !--■.=!, p. 50-60.
concurrence of all of the freeholders, and one of the Magistrates; in Nicholas,
cases not capital, they are to be tried by two Judicial Magistrates j^^^
and three freeholders or slaveholders, a concurrence of a majority of
the jurors and the presiding Magistrate, is enough for conviction ; if
the jurors be unanimous, then in that case the concurrence of the
Magistrate is dispensed with. In all cases, tiie ministerial Magis-
trate, issuing the warrant, is to attend the Court, and act us prosecu-
ting officer.
Sec. 25. The anomaly is presented here of two dilTercnt systems of
5
34 Negro Lav/ or South Carolixa.
jurisprudence for the State and Charleston. Both cannot be right,
one should give way to the other.
Act of '39, sec. Sec. 26. The jurors when organized, should be sworn by the
"=!?• - Magistrate, to well and truly try the case now pending before you,
and adjudge the same according to evidence. So help you God.
Act ofi754, sec. Sec. 27. A slave, free negro, mulatto or mestizo, ciiarged with a
Actof'3'j,se~c.' criminal offence, is to be tried within six days, if it be practicable to
28, p. 22. gjyj^ ^^ least one day's notice of the time and place of trial to the free
negro, mulatto, mestizo, the owner, overseer, or other person having
the care and government of the slave— ichich notice must, in all cases,
be fairly given before the trial can proceed.
Act of '39, p. 22, Sec. 28. On the trial of a slave, free negro, mulatto or mestizo, it
is the duty of the Magistrate to state in writing, plainly anu distinct-
ly, the offence charged against the prisoner, and for which he is on
trial; to this charge the prisoner ought to be required to answer,
either by himself, or tlirough his guardian, master, owner, overseer,
or other person having the care and governnnent of such slave on
trial, or by the attorney employed to defend such prisoner. In every
such trial, the pri.soner is entitled to the benefit of the services of an
attorney at lav/, to defend him. The Magistrate is bound to keep a
correct statement of the testimony given agamsl and for the prisoner,
and to annex it to i/ie t7ia?'g-p, (the accusation.) Tiic judgment of
the Court in the country Districts and Parishes, must be in wriiing.
and signed by the Magistrate and any four of tiie freeholders, or by
the whole, if they agree. In Charleston, it must be inade up ns
directed, (ante sec. 23.) and must be signed by those required to con-
cur in it. It is in all parts of the State to be returned to the Clerk's
ollfice of each judicial district, and be there filed.
. ,,.„ , Sec. 29. When a slave, free negro, mulatto or mestizo, is capitally
Act of '33, sec. 3. ... , , ^ i t i i-
P, 41. convicted, an application may be made to any one ot the Judges ot
2s?p°23."'^*'^' the Courts of Law of this State, in open Court, or at Chambers, for
a new trial. The Magistrate presiding, is required for such purpose,
to furnish a full report of the trial ; and if from that, as well as Irom
affidavits on the part of the prisoner, (which before being laid before
the Judtre must be shewn to the Magistrate presiding.) the Judge
should be satisfied the conviction is erroneous, a new trial is to be
ordered, on which neither the Magistrate, nor Magistrates, nor any
of the freeholders, who before sat on the case, are to sit again. To
afford opportunity for this appeal to be made, or for an application to
the Governor for a pardon, time, reasonable time, must be allowed
by the Court between the conviction and the execution of the sen-
tence,
Si:c. 30. Under these provisions, tliere i.'< not any very well settled
practice. Before a motion for new trial ought to be heard, reasona-
ble notice of the time and place of such motion should be given to the
Nkguo Law or South Carolina. 3$
Magistrate prp.siding. When a new trial is ordered, I have always
directed tlie Clerk oi'the Court to summon the Magistrate and free-
hol.iers, who should try the case de novo, and to give notice to all con-
cerned, of the time and place of trial, and if necessary, to issue sum-
mons for the witnesses. This seemed to secure, in the best way I
could devise, co:isistent!y with the law, an impartial administration
of it.
Sec. 31. Tiic right of nppeal, in casns not capital, and to afford
sufficient time in such cases, for an application for pardon, ought to
be provided for. For many are the errors and abuses of power com-
mitted in this behalf. The whippings inflicted by the sentence of
Courts trying slaves and free negroes, are most enormous— utterly
disproporlioned to otfences. and should be prevented by all the means
in our power. In all cases where whipping is to be resorted to, I
would limit the punishment by law, in all cases affecting both black
and white, to forty, save one. and direct it to be inflicted in portions,
and at con.<iderable intervals of time. Thus mingling imprisonment
and whipping together, and holding the rod suspended, in the con-
templation of the party, until the delay itself would be worse punish-
ment than the infliction.
Sec. 32. The tribunal for the trial of slaves and free negroes, (a
Magistrate and freeholders of the vicinage) is the worst system
which could be devised. The consequence is, that the passions and
prejudices of the neighborhood, arising from a recent ofTence, enter
into the trial, and often lead to the condemnation of the innocent. —
The Charl.^ston scheme is bL-tter than that which prevails in the
country. Still 1 think il none of the best. I would e.stablisha tribu-
nal to consist of one jn.licial Magistrate, to be appointed by the
Legislature, to try;i!l criminal cases against free negroes, mulattoes,
mesiizoos or slaves. He should be compelled to hold his Court on
the first Wednesday in every month, at the Court House; and he
should have the power to direct a Constable, (whom he should be
authorized to appoint to attend his Courts) to summon 24 freehold-
ers or slaveholders of the District, and out of them a jury of 12 should
be empannelled to try the prisoner, allowing him as far as ton, a
peremptory challenue. and on cause shewn, to the balance of the
pannel. The Magistrate issuing the warrant, should be required to
state the offence and act as prosecuting officer. To the charge thus
presented, the prisoner should be required to answer; and he should
have the benefit of an attorney's services, to defend him. on the law
and evidence. Tlie judicial Magistrate should be required to charge
the jury on the law and the ficts. as a Judge of the Law Courts now
does. The jury should simply say guilty or not guilty. The Magis-
trate presiding, should pronounce the judgment of the law. The
prisoner on conviction should have the right of appeal '.o the Court
of Appeals, and no sentence should be passed until the case was
3fi Nlgro Law of South Carolina.
there heard, and the prisoner remanded for judgment. The judicial
Magistrate, his Constable, and the Magistrate issuing the warrant,
shouki be compensated by fees, to be paid, in ail cases, by the State.
Act of '29, p. 28, Seo. 33. Under the law. as it now stands, the State is liable lor all
^"' ^' the costs attending negro trials, (except free negroes, mulattocs. and
mestizoes, in the Parishes of St. Philips, and St. Michael's, who if
convicted, and able to pay. are declared liable to pay the same, and
P. L. 16S. also under the 21st section of the Act of 1740, if the prosecution
against a slave, I'ree negro, mulatto, or mestizo, appears to be mali-
cious, the Court trying the case, and satisfied of that fact, may order
and compel the prosecutor to pay the costs.) This provision of the
Acts of '29, p.28, 21st section of the Act of 1740, is re-enacted, as to slaves, in the Magia-
stc. 2. ' "^
trates' and Constables' Acts for St. Philip's and St. Michael's, pas.-ed
in 1S29.
Exparte Brown, Sec. 34. A slave cannot be twice tried, and punished, for the .«anie
2d Bail. 323. ^ , l .
onence.
Sec. 35. If a slave be out of tlie house or plantation, where such
5t^h sec.Act slave resides, or without some white per.«on in company, and should
P. L. 1G5. refuse to submit to, and undergo the examination of any white per-
son, it is lavviul for such white person to pursue, apprehend, and
moderately correct such sitive, and if such slave shall assault and
strike such white person, such slave may be lawfully killed.
Sec. 36. Masters, overseers, or other persons, have the power to
apprehend and take up any slave found out of his or her master's or
owner's plantation at any time, but more especially on Saturday
Sec. 36, Act of nights or Sundays, or other holidays, not b(-ing on lawful business, or
P^L 172 ^^^ ^''''''^ ^ ticket from the master, or not having some white person
in company, and even with a ticket, if armed with wooden swords or
other mischievous and dangerous weapons, and to disarm such slave,
and all sucli mentioned in this section, to whip.
r,.-)!h sFc. of the Sec. 37. Any person is authorized to take up any runaway slave,
p'"L"|,yV'istscc ''^"^' ^^ seems, it is 7iow the duty of the person taking up a runaway,
Aci oi '8.S. (when he knows, or can be informed without difficulty, to whom such
:.3<i sec. Act of slave belongs) to send such slave to the said owner, but if the owner
be unknown, then in Cliarleston District, it is tile duty of the person
;3:!i ESC. oidi- taking up such runaway slave to send within five days, the same to
ofcrharieLioiiT'^ the Work House in the city of Charleston, the master of the Work
315.^'"^ Laws, JJ^^,^^ jg iQ admit every such slave upon a certificate from a Magis-
trate of the District; or Mayor, or one of the Aldermen of the city,
containing the particulars of the apprehension of such fugitive slave,
and requiring his confinement ; in all other parts of the State the
runaway slave is to be sent to the Gaol of the District. It is the duty
of the Master, Gaoler or Sheriff, to securely keep the slave so com-
mitted, and ii the same escape by negligence, the Master or Sherili,
(for tlie gaoler is merely the Sheriff's keeper.) is liable to the owner
Nkgro Law of Soi'th Cahoi.ixa, 87
for the vitliie of the slave or such damnges as may be sustained by
f^Lich escape. Inronriation of the shive so committed to the care ol }.^^|',;j'',y•,^'■''•
the Master of the Work Hou^-e, is to be by him sent, to the owner. '''|;!^'^.s*^^[^"'^''^
known; if he be unknown, the Master of the Work House i.s ;o adver-
tise such shivu in the city paper, (under the advice of ihe City Att"y.)
giving the name, age. and other further de.scription, so tiiat tiie
owner may be informed the slave is in custody. In other parts of the
State, the runaway is to be advertised once a week for 3 months, in
some public gazette, by the Sheriff or Gaoler, who is also requirei!, if
the owner's name and address can be obtained, to give him specific
notice of the confinement of the said runaway. The advertisement
must contain the name, age, and oilier particular description of such
slave, and the name of the person .said to be the owner. The Gaoler
or Sherifi", and the JNIaster of the Work House, is liable to a fine of
10s. or $2 14 for such slave committed as a runaway, neglected to be
advertised. The runaway is to be kept for 12 months, if not claimed
by the owner, and in Charleston, proof of property made on oath
before one of the Judges of the Common Pleas, or any Magistrate,
within twelve months from the date of the. adverli.sement in Charles-
ton, in other parts of the State, from the commitment, the runaway
is to be sold. In Charleston the sale is to be made by the City She-
riff, he CTivinir one month's notice of the time, place, and reason of I'^th and loth
' ° =" , . , , sec. Ord. of
such sale; he is to give to the purchaser a receipt lor the money Chari.stoii,'3g-
arising f>om such sale, specifying tlie reasons of the sale, and he (tlie "'^ ^^^^'
City Sheriff) is directed to pay the said proceeds to the City Treas-
ury. Out of the fund so paid over, is to be deducted the expenses of
the said runaway, as provided and allowed by law. The balance is
to be retained by the City Treasurer, for the owner, but if not claimed
within a year and a day it is to be paid into the State Treasury, and
out of it. 1 presume, the Commissioners of Public Buildings of Charles-
ton District are entitled to draw it. under the general law of '39. In
other parts of the State, the Sheriff of the District is to advertise the 53d see. of .4ct of
,,,,., '39. 11 Slal. 30.
runaway for a month, and then to sell ; and after paymg the charges
or expenses allowed by law, the balance is to be paid to the Commis-
sioners of Public Buildings, and is to belong to them ab.^oluteiy. if
not claitned by the owner of the slave so runaway, within two years.
The title to be executed by the Sheriff to the purchaser of such run-
away, is good, and bars the rights of the owner. Any neglect or
default in the duties required by the 53d section of tlie Act of '39,
subjects a Gaoler or Sheriff to an action on the case.
Sec. 33. A person taking up a runaway, and failing to send the
same to the work house, or the District gaol within five days, is ''^"xcfof'ss
ble to pay 20.s. or $1 28-100 for every day the same may be retained. P- ^ 441.
The person taking up a runaway, is entitled to 10.?. or $2 14-100 for i?th spc. Ord.
taking up such runaway, 4d. or ;-100 for every mile irom the place ciiy Laws, 3i5.
38 Keguo Law of South Carolina.
Vv'hcre taken to the owner's residence, (if the runaway be car-
rii;<i to liic owner.) or to the district gaol or theworkliuu.se, and
liair a dollar jer i! ay tor tiie travel, computing the journey at 25
miles to ilie tiay. To entitle the person taking up a runaway, to
tiicse allowances, he must carry the slave to a neighboring Magis-
trate, wiio may examine on oath the captor, touching the time and
distaru-e he has necessarily travelled, and shall go wiih such slave,
ii;id ihe said Magistrate shall give a certificate on a just estimate of
such time and distance, and on presenting sucli certificate, the gaol-
er is to give his note I'or the same payable to the bearer. The Mas-
ter of the Work House is lo pay tiie same, instead of giving a note.
These fees are to be paid to tiie Gaoler, or Master of the Work House,
by the owner, or out of tlie sale of the said runaway, if he should not
be claini(>d by the owner and be sold.
SOihand .irih Sec. 39. It i.': the duty of the Piaster of the Work House. Gaoler,
mu."' ' "^ '"'" or ShcrilT, to provide .'■uiricient food, drink, clothing and coveritiij, for
^■^■^^^- every runaway slave delivered into the custody of either. The
11 S:at. 11. Gaoler or Slicriif is entitled to charge 20 cents per day for each run-
away confined, and also for all necessary expenses in providing
20fhs?c. Orel, of'-'o'bes or blankets. In the Work House, a runaway slave is direct-
'30, Cay Laws, pj ((^ 1,^^ y-^-^i ^q lubor on the tread-mill, and therefore no charge for
diet is made.
, . „_, ,^, Sec. 40. Each militia beat company, bv its commander, (except
let, 2d, and 3d i J . i V l
sec. Act of '3y. the comptmy or comp-anies on Charleston Neck.) is divided into con-
venient patrol districts. All the free white male inhabitants, above
tiie age of eighteen years, of each patrol district, are liable to do
patrol duly, except aliens or transient persons above the age of forty-
five years, or who have not resided within the State for six months?,
or persons who are above the age of forty-five, who do not own slaves,
or alien enemies. Persons liable to do patrol duty, may send in their
places, respectively, an able-bodied wliite man, between the ages of
sixteen and sixty, as a substitute; and for failing to discharge patrol
duty, in person or by substitute, each person liable to do the same
without a legal excuse, is liable to pay a fine of S2 for each default,
and ten per c(>nt. on his general tax of the preceding year.
3d and 4 ih sec. ^EC. 41. It is the duty of the cominandiiig officer of each beat
fl'^Sta'i t^ compatiy, to make out a roll of the inhabitants of each patrol divi-
sion, liable to do jiatrol duly, and from such roll, at each regular mus-
ter of his company, to prick off (it Ids discretion, any number of per-
sons to do patrol tluty until the next muster, and appoint some pru-
dent and discreet person to command the said patrol. If tlie officer
commanding the beat company, fails to prick off, at each muster, the
patrol of each divi.sion, or the commandant of the patrol fails in his
duty, each of them is liable to a fine not exceeding $30.
Nkgko Law of Soctu Caholi:<a. 39
Sec. 42. It is the duty of the commaiKiaut of iho patrol t" call -^ilyj^V.lj.'^ hs-c.
them out at least once a fortnight, and to take up. anil roi-reci with il S.ai. 5t— GO.
stripe.'^, not exceecling 20. willi a switch or cow.-kin. all slav('.< liuiial
outside of their owner's or employers plantation, wiiiioul a tirket or
letter to shew the rea.-onahleness of his ahsencc. or some white per-
son in compMiny to give an account ol' the business of sucii slave;
and als(j, if the slave iiave a ticket, and has in liis possession, a gun,
j)i5;lol or other ollen.<ive weapon, unless such slave be on lawl'ul busi-
n<'ss, or in company with some white person not less than ten years
of age. Fire arms, and other ofi'ensivc weapons, found by the patrol aci n) M3,
in the possession of a slave, in violation of the above provisions, are ^■^■'^ •
liahle to seizure by them, and condemnation and forfeiture to the use
of the regiment to vvhicii the patrol may belong. To ohtain such
forfeiture, the leader of the patrol making the seizure, must, within
ten days, go before the nearest Magistrate, and make oath of the
manner, time and place of taking, and if the Magistrale shall be sa-
tisfied of the legality of the seizure, he shall summon the owner of
the slave from whom the arms have been taken, to appear before
him within ten days, to shew cause why the arms should not he con-
demned. If the owner should fail to appear, or appearing, should
shew insufficient cause, the said arms or weapons shall, by certificate
under tlie hand of the Magistrate, be ^-declared condemned/'' and
mav be sold within ten days, and the proceeds, after payment of the
costs, paid to the paymaster of the regiment.
Sec. 43. The patrol have the power, and arc required to enter into etiis^c Art ofso,
any disorderly house, vessel or boat, suspected of harboring, trath-k- ''' """
ing or doriliiig with negroes, whether the same be occupied by white
persons, free negroes, mulattoes, mestizoes or slaves; and to appre-
hend and correct all slaves found there, by whipping, (unless, as I
apprehend, such slaves shall have not only a ticket to be absent, but
also a ticket to trade.) The patrol is required lo inform a .Magis-
trate of such white persons, free neicrocs. mulattoes or mesiizoi'S. as
may be found in such house, vessel or boat, and to detain, until re-
covered by law, sucli produce or articles for trafficking, as may be
therein found, if such detention be authorized by any three freehold-
ers or any Magistrate. It is the duty of t!ie owner ol each boat or
vessel navigating the public rivers or canals of this State, to keep
and produce to the Magistrates or patrols, when required, a list of all
the negroes composing the crew, witli their owners' names, and a de-
scription of their persons.
Sec. 44. The patrol may, as is stated in the 44th and 45th sec- mh and I4rii
lions of chapter 2nd of this digest, break up unlawful assemblies of H'^s^'t'sa, ooi
slaves, and inflict punishment on slaves there ibund. not exceeding "^i-
20 stripes, with a switch or cowskin.
Sec. 45. Every owner of a settled plantation, who does not live on
4i^ Niocuo Law of South Caholina.
oPJiri'ui.^''' '-^'f '-'^^^^- ^'^ n'on?hs in every year, and ivlio employs upon the Bame
11 Stat. fifteen or more slaves, is required to keep upon the same, some white
man. capahle of jM^rforminn- jiatrol duty, under a penalty of fifly cents
per niontJi for each and every woikin,ir slave employed on the said
plantation.
=19'.'' Trsiu p' ^^^^- ^^- P^'f'-"'''^ ^'-e not liable, in the discharge of tlicir duty, to
Cl- il'.e payment of any tolls.
is;h soc. Act of .Sec. 47. In incorporated towns and villages, the power and duty
cl' " '^ ' ''■ of regulating the patrol in the same, is vested in and devolved upon
the municipal authorities of the same.
TiieS'aie vs. Slc. 43. The Captain of a Beat Comnany. cannot constitute him-
Col? i)\)(\ others x j .
2mv. 1^2. ' self the Captain of a Patrol.
Hog? vs. Keller, Sec. 49. Tile ticket or pass to a slave, need not slate the place to
Mrc. Tkj. \vhioh he or she is to go, and a patrol whipping a slave, with such a
mo. ^'^^' "'■''''''■ pass, are trespassers. The form given in the Act of 1740, •• Permit
this shive to ho absent from the plantation of A. B. until ,•• or
any other equivalent form, will be sufficient.
7th nnciatlisee. Sec. 50. It is the duty of Ciiptaiiis or Commanders of Patrol, to
A'-t of '39. 1,1- ■ ' 1 • , , , ,
11 Suit. 09. keep titeir rc.<^pective command.- i!i good order and demeanor, when
on duty; and any patrol man misbehaving himself or neglecting or
disobeying the orders of his commandant, is littble to a fine of not less
than S2 nor more than $20. If the Captain of a Patrol acts disor-
derly, so as to defeat the proper execution of the patrol laws, he is
liable to be returned by any member of his command, or any other
person competent to give evidence, to the commanding officer of the
Beat Company, who is to return him to a Court Martial for trial, and
if found guilty, he may be fined not less than $5, nor more than $50.
loth sfc. Act of Si:c. 51. Each Captain of the Patrol is required, at the net regu-
59.' '' ■ ^' bir miislcr of the Beat Company, after his appointment, to make a
return, on oath, of the performance of his duties. Failing to make
such return, he is liable to a fine of $20
17'hsec. Act. of ^''* • ^~- '^'^^ penalties to be incurred by the commanding officers
^^9 J). Gl. u of Beat Companies, commandants of the patrols, and patrol men, for
neglect ol duty, or violation of law, may be imposed by Courts Mar-
tiah
loiii s»c. Art of Sec. 53. If the patrol be sued, and the party sin'ng. fail to recover,
'he is liable to treble costs ; wliicli is full costs, to which is added one
half, and then half of that half.
Sec. 54. The Act of '39 in repealing all other laws on the subject
of the patrol, unfortunately excepts the Act regulating the perform-
ance of patrol duty on Charleston Neck. The Act of '23, so
saved from repeal, differs in many respects from the general
Act of ':S. sec. ]jf,-;v. which it is now necessary to state. 1st. A majority of the com-
pany officers is to direct how the company is to be divided into patrol
districts, and the Captain is so to divide it, and it is so to continue
NuGRj Law of Sultth CvnoLiNA, 41
until altered by a majority of t:aid oflicers. The olFicers failing to do
this duty, are liable to a line of S30, to be recovered it. the Court of
Law. (by indictment) as no mode is appointed by the Act. 2d. All 2d section.
white males above 18 and under 60, resiiling in said patrol districts,
(except ministers of the Gospel) all females owning ten slaves above
the age ot ten years, and aU persons having settled farms, or a house
and lot, with five or more slaves above the age of 16. residing witliin
the said compaiiics. are liable to do patrol duty. Females required
•to do patrol duty, must of course do so by substitute. 3d. The cora-^,
f •' •' 3J section,
manding officer, or olficers of a company are to appoint in writing.
the leader of the patrol, whose qualification and term of office is the
same as pointed out in section 40. The person so appointed refusing
to accept, the commanding officer or officers of companies or the lead-
ers of patrol, not peforming the duties required, are liable to a fine of
$20. to be recovered by indictment, in the Court of Law, and paid to
the Commissioners of Cross Roads. No person can be compelled to
serve as leader, more than once in 12 months. 4th. The patrol is not
only authorized to enter disorderly houses, &c., as stated in section
42; but if resisted, they are authorized to break open doors, windows,
and locks ; they are required to produce to the Magistrate, whom they
may inform of white persons, i\ee. negroes, mulattoes and mestizoes,
found in such houses, the produce or an ides for trafficking found
there, to he disposed of according to hvo. 5th. The leader of a patrol
is, as is stated in section 49. to keep his command in good order, &c. jetlianJnh see-
any patrol man, misbehaving, &,c., is liable to a fine of $2, to be''°"'
imposed by the officers of the company to which he belongs, and to
be paid to the Commissioners of Cross Roads, Charleston Neck. —
A leader acting disorderly mny be proceeded against as stated in
section 49; he is to be tried by a Court consisting of the officers of
his company, or any 3 officers of the Regiment, and may be fined $10,
to be paid to the same authorities. Commissioners of Cross Roads,
Charleston Neck. 6th. A substitute for patrol must be between 18 sui section.
and 60. 7lh. Free negroes, mulattoes, or mestizoes, found on
_,, , ^T 1 1 , . . . . ■ lOrh soctioa.
Charleston Neck, are to be treated by the patrol, as slaves, unless
they produce their free papers, office copies, or other satisfactory
evidence of freedom. If found out of their own houses, or the enclo-
sure of iheir employer, not having a regular ticket from their gu;ir-
diaa, after 9 P. M., from 20th Sept. to 80th March, and 10 P. M., from
20th March to20th Sept. they are declared liable to be treated as slaves
wiihout a pass. 8th. No grocery, retail shop, or any store, shop, or
place, wherein are vended spirituous liquors, is to be kept open on tiie ^^'''^ sec.iou.
Sabb:^th day. or any otlier day after 9 P. AI., from 2Cr.h Sept. to 20th
March, and after 10 P. M., from 20th March to 20th Sept., any owner,
or occupant violating this law, or trading, trafficking or bartering
therein, with any slaves, free neg oes, mulatfoc9, or mestizoes, is
42
Negro Law of South Carolina.
Act of '45, Is
and .2iJ sec.
11 Slat. 314.
liable to a fine of $50, 1o be recovered by indictment, in the Court of
La'v, and paid to the Commissioners of Cross Roitds, Charleston
Neck. 9th. Each inhabitant of Ciiarleston Neck, liabl'- to patrol
duty, is required to provide and carry witii liim on service, a good
gun or pistol, in order, with at least 6 hall cartridges for the same, or
cutlass, under the penalty of $2, and 10 per cent on his general tax of
the year preceding. 10th. The commanding officer of the company
or companies on Charleston Neck, may appoint a Secretary, whose
duty it shall be to prepare and lay before the Military Courts herein
before mentioned, all necessary papers, and to keep a record of the
proceedings of the same, wliicli is to be open to the inspection oi' all
interested. For this duty, he is exempted from ] alrol duty, llili.
The leader ol" each patrol may appoint a warner to summon the
patrol; and for this duty he is exempted from the patrol. 12th. It
is the duty of the officers commanding tlie companies on Ciiarleston
Neck, and all Magistrates, to inform tlie leaders ol' the patroKs. of
unlawful assemblies, of negroes, (slaves ) frve negroes, niolatioes,
and mestizoes. The leaders on receipt of this inlormatioii. are to
turn out their patrols, and discharge the duty required hy law ; lail-
fng to do this, they are respectively liable to a fine of $20, to be paid
to the Commissioners of Cross Road.s. Charleston Neck. For uni-
formity sake. I think this Act of '23, should be repealed.
Sec. 55. The Commissioners of Cross Road.-^ on Charleston Neck,
by the Act of '45. were authorized to build a Guard House, and it
provides that all free negroes, mulattoes, mestizoes, and suives. on
Charleston Neck, charged or found guilty of violating the law, shall
be therein confined, and there punished ; and also slaves, free negroes,
mulattoes, and mestizoes, taken up by the patrol, shtill there be whip-
ped according to the patrol law, unless the owner or person having
charge of such slaves, free negroes, mulattoes. or mestizoes, or their
guardians, shall pay to the Commissioners of Cross Roads, one dol-
lar for each of said slaves, free negroes, mulattoes or mestizoes.
Negro LaVv cr South Carolina. 41
CHAPTER IV.
The III. 'hfP!— Civil and Criminal Eeimdies— And Liahililies of the
Mailer. AUo the Law to Prevent the Disturbance of the Peace in
rcdalion to Slaves and Free Negroes.
Sec. 1. Tlio riglit of a master in a slave aiul all which appertains
or belonors to him. i.s that of property. If the .slave be in the posses-
sion of another, his owner maj^ maintain detinue for his specific deli-
very, or ni.iy have a lull in Equity, to compel his possession to be
restored, <ui. less hr in;iy have been boright for sale, in which case Samr^^j-.j[:or-
the owiur is left to hii< remedy at law.) or may bring trover to reco-ii. i^ii.
ver the <lainages sustained in his conversion. The owner may bring
tre.^p iss Ibr any forcible taking of the slave from his possession, or for
any forcible injury*" done to his person. So too. if a slave wander
from the posse.<sion of the owner, and another employ him. the owner f^j^i'^fu^^y^;
may brinsr assiimjvsit for his labor, or trover tor the time he maybe in 370-2.
the employment of a iliird person, or if such person knew he was a
slave, ihe action on the c.i.se might be sustained. So too. if a bailee Helton vs. Cas-
abuse or employ a shive dhf.'rently from the contract of bailment. Duncan vs. Rail
and he is kiUed or injured, the bailee would be liable to the owner. — }^'j|!',',' g^'"; ^"^
So too. a conMHon farrier traii.sporting a slave from one place to i^O" [jJi^aidri mcc?'
ther. is lialilf lo> an injury to. the death, or loss of the slave, as he~^-
would be for other articles, witli this e.xeei)tion, if he shews that he
used proper care and diligence, and the injury, loss, or death, resulted wriglu vs. Gray,
from the act of the slave, then he would not be liable. Any employ- ^tl Bay> 464.
ment of a slave, without the consent of the master, by which the
skive is killed, or Injured, makes the person so employing him, liable
for the damages sustained by the owner. For personal property, in
the possession of the slave, and commonly called the property of the
slave, the master may maintain the same actions against one posses-
sing himsftll'of it, as he could lor the slave himself. For harboring a
•runaway shive. knowing him to be such, an action on the case can be
maintained by the owner.
Sec. 2. A contract, for the hire of a slave for a year is an entire I'arn- vs. Tar-
■>• , I 1- L- 11 I .• I r> » ■.■ntll.jaUail.424.
rontract, vel it the slave die, his wages will be apportioned. But il
tile slave be sick, or runaway, no deduction is to be made on either w.lU vs. Ken-
account. The owner -is not liable generally, for medical services ren- "23.''''
dered to his slave, while in the possession of one to whom he may be
,.,„,. .1.11,- i. 1 ■ 1 1.1- J"hns;on vs.
hired. The master is liable for medical services rendered tu Ins Barren, '2a u.iil.
.slave without his knowledge, if the slave be in great danger. ''''-••
Sec. 3. By the 5th section of the Act of '39, provision is made, ifsih sec. Act of
any white mm shall beat or abuse any slave, quietly and peaceably "•^^- liSiat. id.
bein^ in his master's plantation, or found any where without, the
same, witii a lawful ticket, that Ite shall forfeit $50, to be recovered
by and to the use of tiie owner, by action of debt, besides being liable
44
Kcono Lavv- of South Carolin.
CaUlwell ef. al.
ads. Lancford, 1
Acts of 1823, p.
64.
3tl sec. Act of
1747. P. L. '2U
1 McMiilI. Rev
4S0.
c. Act of
v. L. lOo.
to the owner, in an action of trespnss for damages. Under thi.s pro-
vision, it has been held, that wher^- a slave wtis found out of" h'>. nia.?-
ter's plantation, but h^id a ticket, and was whipped by the party find-
ing him. that the master cou'd maintain the action under the Act,
and recover.
Sec. 4. The Act of '23. for the reijulation ofpatrol duty on Charles-
ton Neck, section 4, provides if any white man shall wantonly beat, or
abuse any slave, quietly and peaceably being in his or her owner's
enclosure, or found anywhere williout the same, Avith a lawful ticket,.
he shall forfeit S50. to be recovered by the owner, and to his use,,
besides being liable to the owner in an action of trespa.«s for damage-s.
This provision is identical with that of '39, except that in the Act of
'23, the boating or abusing must be wantonly. In the Act of '39. no
Buch word is used. It may be under the Act of '23, malice, or cruel-
ty, would have to be shewn.
Sec. 5. The 3rd section of the Act of 1747, provides, that if any
overseer or manager shall employ upon his own account or business,
any of the negroes committed to his care, by sending them on errands,
or in any other manner whatever, such overseer or manager shall pay
the sum of ICs. (equal to ^2 14-100,) for every day he o? they shall!
so employ any negro committed to the care of such overseer or mana-
ger. (This penalty, another part of the Act, section 1st, directs ta-
be recovered before a Justice of the Peace, Magistrate now, in the
manner and form prescribed for the recovery of small debt.s> and da-
mages.) The 3rd section further provides, that to establis-h the fact
of the employment of the owner's slaves by the overseer cri^anager,
the ivformat 1071 of the negroes shall be sufficient, unles the overseer or
manager will exculpate himself on oath.
In the case of Dillard vs. Wallace. I ruled that this provision was
obsolete from non-user. The Court of Appeals, admitting that its
enforcement had been hitherto unknown, and ninety years had them
elapsed from its enactment, held that it was still not obsoleSe. It is
therefore a law, however anomalous in its provision about evidence,
still to be enforced.
Sec. 6. If any slave shall he beat, brui-'^ed, maimed' or disabled, in
the lawful business or service of his master, owner, overseer or other
person having charge of such slave, by any person or persons-, not
having sufiicient cause or authority, (of which cause the Magistrate
trying the case is to judge.) he or they shall forfeit 40a\ current mo-
ney, equal to 55. M. sterling, or $1 20-100. to the use of the poor of
the District or Parish. If the slave or slaves be maimed or disabled
from performing his or her or their work, the person or persons beat-
ing the slave, shall also forfeit and pay to the owner, I5s. current mo-
ney, equal to about 44 cents, for every day he may be unable to dis-
charo-e his usual service, and the charge of the cure of such slave-
NiSCRo L.V.V or South Carolina. 4&
If the (liimagos in thewliolc do not exceed £23 current money, equiil
to $12 27-100. they, as ;iUo tlie penalty Ibr the use of tlie poor, may
be recovered before a Magistiafe ; and if the oirender shall produce
no goods on which the same maybe levied, the Magistrate is author-
ized to commit him to gaol until the same be paid.
These provisions have l)tMMi very little noticed, and furnish so poor
a relief Ibr the abuse to which they apply, that they will rarely be
resorted to. The action of trespass is an abundantly better remedy.
Still, this law exists, and may. in the case described m the Act, be
resorted to by owners, if they clioose so to do. They caiinoi. howev-
er, have this remedy, and also an action of trespass.
Sec. 7. Any person v^ho shall give a ticket or written pern)it <(^ ^^ Actsof'35,r.S3.
slave, the property of or under the charge of another, (without tlie
consent, oragainst the will of such owner, or person having charge.)
authorizing such slave to be absent, or to deal, trade or traliic, sutdi
person is liable to be indicted, ami on convir.tion. to be i)unished by
fine not exceeding $1000, and imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.
Notwithstanding this Act, a person who might give a ticket to a ^h*^ J|^='^^^^Yuir.
slave, with a view to aid a slave in running away and departing from 472.
his master's service, might he tried and capitally convicted under the
Act of 1754.
Sf.c. 8. If a white person harhor, conceal or entertain any runaway
or fugitive slave, he or she is liable to be indicted ibr a misdemea--*'^'^°'^'-^-P-^'^'
nor, or prosecuted in a civil action for damages, at the election of the
owner or per.son injured. If indicted and convicted, the offender is
liable to a fine not exceeding $1000. and imprisonment not exceeding
12 months. The owner may proceed by indictment, and also civilly, s-ein,'^ '"iticii-
at the same time, he cannot be put to his election until the trial. ^^°-
Sec. 9. If a person be maimed, wounded or disabled, in pursumg p,!, ^ec. Act of
apprehending or taking any slave that is run away, or charged with ^''■^^- ^ ^ ""'^■
any criminal olfence, or in doing any thing else, in obedience to the
Act of 1740, he shall receive such reward from the public as the Ge-
neral Assembly may think fit; and if he be killed, his heirs, execu-
tors or administrators shall receive the same.
I do not know that any claim has ever been made under this law.
Still, however, it seems to he of three, and a claimant would be enti-
tled to the benefit of its provisions.
Sec. 10. The Court trying and capitally convicting a slave, is to
appraise the same, not exceeding $200, and certify such appraisement ^^^ usiai. 264.
to the Treasurer of the Division within which the slave may be con-
demned; and in the event of the slave being executed, in pursuance
of the sentence, the Treasurer is directed to pay the appraisement to
the owner.
Seu. 11. If a white person game with a free negro, mulatto or
mestizo, or slave, or shall bet upon any game played, wherein one ol sic. 7 su:. 4ey.
46 Nkcko Law of Solt;: CaxIulin/.,
The Sate vs. Ihc paftlcs is a frpc negro, mulatto, ineslizo or slave, or sli;ill be wili-
Niiles, ad Hill, . / ...,.',
21)0. ingiy present, aiding am! abetting, wiiere any game ol chance is
pl.iyed, as aforesaiil, insucbcase. such wliite person, upon conviction
by indiclincnt. is liable to receive 39 lashes, and to be fined and im-
prisonL'd at the di^-crction of the Court; one half of the fine is to go
Act^ of '41, 11 to the inlornier. the other half to the State.
Sec. 12. Any shop-keeper, trader or other person, by himself or
u^t i-cf:. Act r-f any other per.^on acting for him or her. wlio shall buy or purchase
from any slave, in any partof thi.s State, any corn. rice, peas, or other
grain, bacon, flour, tobacco, indigo, cotton, blades, hay. or any other
article wliatsoever. or fliall otherwise deal, trade or traffic with any
slave not Imviiig a per. nit so to deiil. trade or fradic. or to sell any
fHicli artirJe. from oi' under tiie hand of his master or owner, or such
other per.<on as may iinve the care and management of sucli slave,
upon co:iviclion, i.s liahlt: to he lined not exceeding $1CC0. and to be
ad section. imprisoned not more than 12 months, nor less than 1 month. It is
the business of the party trading witli a slave, to j)roduce and prove
the permit.
Si;c. 13. If a slave enter a shop, store, or house of any kind, used
'34.^7siii'r'. 409 f<^'" dealing, trading and trafficking, with an article, and come out with-
u'*'^'^ iif "ir ^^^^ ^'^'^ same, or enter without an article, and come out with one. it
is sufficient evidence to convict the owner or person occupying the
same for trade, in an indictment under the Act of 1S17.
Sec. 14. If a white person, being a distiller, vendor or retailer of
Sd ser Act. of spirituous liquors, shall sell, exchange, give, or in any otherwise de-
'31. 7 s.at, 403. jjy^p p,,)y sj-.ii-ituous liquors to any slave, except upon the written and
express order of the owner or person having the care and manoge-
nunit of the slave, he shall, upon conviction, be fined not exceeding
$100, and imprison.ed not exceeding six months; one half of the said
H,ut.°2a4'' ^^ fi'^p '0 '■'"'' U'^'^ "'' t'"^ informer, and the other half to the use of the
State.
Sec. 15. One effect resulting from the Act. and certainly neither
Evans,'yd liill, intemU'd nor antieipated hy the Legislature, was to re})eal the penal-
^^^' tyof iheAct of 1SJ7. quoad distillers, vendors and retailers, (the
very ptM-sons who above all others ought to bear the heaviest pen-
Thp State vs. allies ) in reh.iiion to the sale or exchange of spirituous liquors. The
Rep.Yi:.' rule of evidence established by the Act of 1817, as to the production
and proof of the permit, still remains in force.
. Sec. 16. In tin indiciment for tradinir with a slave, or giving or
Srlirodtr, 3d' delivering spirilnoiis litpiorsto a slave, it is neces.<.;iry tlnit the slave
' should be described, when possible, by his own and his owner's name,
or it" that be not possible, by some equivalent description of the slave.
Sec. 17. In indictments under the Act of 1834. although the rule
•rhp !*'aievs. rtf evidence established hv its 5th section does not apply, and so. too.
under the Act ol" 1817, where the trading is not in '-a shop, store, or
Nf.gho Law ok South C.viiolina. 47
lionse of any kind, uppd for iradinof " yer. if the slave he soon lo cntor
with an article, and come out wilhoiit it. or to enter witlioiii an arti-
cle, and come out with one. it is a ta't. iVoni wiiicii. at common law.
a presomption may arise oCu-iiilt. and on whicii tin' jury may convict, si'h.'r." ^'nn
.Si:c. 18. It was decided immediately alter flie passajre of the Act i},'',|™..'J^'"^^-ji
nl" JS17. that the sale to a slave, of any article whaUoever. or pnrcha.-^e ^,"",^^,"'Li
Irom a slave o("anv ar<tc/fi whatsoever. helonfrin2" if> the .slave, his Tlu Sale vs.
/ ■ , ■ ,r , , Auoiip. -2 N. aiKl
master, or any otlier p'^.rson. was a violation ol tjie law. Mn'. 2".
Skc. 19. If the master, or overseer, or other per.^oa liavia'j charsre gi^lmj^ N. iin.v
of the slave, send a slave with goods to detect anoilier, in il^^'ihn^r ,'|'';^'g*'p ,!^"^''-
tradintr or tralfickinij with a slave, and stand hy, and see the trading, (V",',"^',^^'" ''"''
it does not excuse the defendant, he still is giiiltv.
*' Tho Sifiip vs
Sec. 20. If the owner, or overseer, or otlier person havimr charge (;,,iem:». (not
of the slave, go with him to make the sale or purchase, and stand l)y xhe's'^llfvi.
and assent to the saint\ the vendor would not he guilty. For then, i^!*^*"^^' ^ Si)eer3,
the trading- niiixht he; regarded as th.atof the imistrr hy his slave.
SiU'. 21. II" the trader be in the hahit of trading with slaves and "[''''f •■'.•;^'^-.
=> Aiioiip. J N. and
had authorized his clerk so to trade, he may he convicted for a tradinir Mcc. 27.
- The t» Hie vs.
with ii slave, hy his clerk in his absence. But the [irincipal cannot Mailiim.dvri-
II " 1 1 ,• • .■ I • I 1 I 1 -1 ilKlalColiimbia,
he criminally answerable lor tne act ot r.is cleric, unless done vvitli May '35.
his knowledge and consent actual, or implied. The same rub: holds. Col*i-man! ^DutT.
as to a partner. Ti^e s-aie vs.
Sec. 22. An overseer trading with his emnloyt.'r's slaves may be <'-'ii-""i'e''! 2
^ ' " ■' S:rub.
indicted and convicted, under the Act of 1817.
Sec. 23. Before the Act ni 'SI, a persoa wiio sold liquor to a slave tiip Sate vs.
Souii- rk;i!b. 2 N.
might be indicted for trading with a slave without a ticket, and also :iud McC 2Sa
for retailing. It follows, since the Act of '31 is substituted tor that of o s iiiivau.'at
•17, so far as the penalty is concerned, that a person now may jj^ -^'si Pnus.
indicted fcr selling, giving, exchanging or deliviTiiig spirituous
lirjuors to a slave, and forretailing without a license, although there
he but one sale and delivery.
Sec. 24. If one sell spirituous liquor to a slave, or to another for Harrison vs.
him, without a permit from his owner, employer, or other person hav-g25.'^''^^' '*'''"'''
ins charge of him. and the slave die in consequence of the loo '^ree
use of the liquor so .sold, the person so selling, is liable, in an action
on the case, for the value of the slave to the owner.
Sec. 25. A license to retail, cannot be granted to an applicant, ^,^ ^.^^ij^i^ ^^.^
Tinless he will swear that he will not, during his license, sell, give, o*^'^' '^ ^'="- P-
exchange, barter or otherwise deliver spirituous liquors to any slave
contrary to the law on that subject. If he has been engaged before
in the business, he must also swear, that he has not during his past
license, sold, given, delivered, exchanged, bartered, or otherwise
delivered spirituous liquors to a slave contrary to law.
Sec. 20. If a master or other person having charge of a slave who 20tti sec. Act of
may be accused of any capital or other crime, shall conceal or convey p, l, iG3.
•48 KtG!;o Law of Sodth CAnoi,i.\A.
away sncli .'^lav,^ so he cannot bo brought to trial and punishment,
such master or otlicr person sliall be liable to forfeit £250 current
nioney. equal to £35 16.9. 5d. or §153 58-100, if the crime be capilal;
if not capital. llui; the forfeiture is £50 currency, equal to £7 3s. 3c/.
Til" Sfate vs. or $30 70. Tliif- provision, in capital felonies, supersedes the com-
iuy ituo'. " '' "'"" ''i^^' otfence of accessory, after tiie fact in a crime committed by
a slave, so far as owners and other persons having charge of a slave
may be concerned.
Sec. 27. A master is liable for the acts of hi.s slave, done nesli-
Drayfon afJ.s. ^ . , '
Moore. Parker gentlv, unskilful! V. or wiliullv. in the course of any public emplov-
vs.Gonion.Diid. ' , . . , , , • , , , ■ , ■
sua aient or business carried on by luni, under the authority or with the
s roiit"i)Lid.^' consent of his master. As lohere, a slave navigating his master's
'^ni:^ vs Tree I ^'f ^-''el, SO negligenthj managed his craft as to injure a vvharl, or to run
AJrtv. 178. down a car of tish. or where a slave carpenler. with his master's
assent, actual or implied, undertakes to repair a house, and in doing
it. does it so unskilfully, that the whole building falls down, or where
a slave blacksmith, in shoeing a horse, becomes enraged with him,
and wilfully knocks out the horse's eye with his shoeing hammer, in
all these cases, the master is liable, according to the principles which
I have above stated.
■Snee v.s. Trice, 2 Sf,c. 28. Th.eniasfcr is not liable for the unauthorized ac1sofhi.g
w'insis'v.s. slave, done without his knowledge or consent, actual or implied, and
Sraitli..J McC. ^Q^ jj-j j^jj-jy p^iljlit; business or employment, in which he nas placed hig
slave.
>Sec. 29. Any person or persons, who shall, on his. her. or their own
ifs^^.^iy^!' ^'' hehall, or under color, or in virtue of any commission, or authority
from any Slate or public authority of any State in this Union, or any
foreign power, come within this State, with the intent to disturb, hin-
der, or counteract the operation of laws made or to be made, in rela-
tion to slaves, free negroes, mulattoes, and mestizoes, are liable to be
arrested, and if not bailed, committed to gaol by any of the Judges of
this State, including the Recorder, for a high misdemeanor, and on
conviction is liable to be sentenced to banishment Irom the Stale. and
to be fined and imprisoned at the discretion of the Court.
Sec. 30. Any person within this State, who shall at any time
M4? i^sttu'^Vj accept any commission or authority from any State, or pub-
lic authority of any State in this Union, or from any foreign
power, in relation to slaves or free persons of color, and wiio
shall commit any overt act with an intent to disturb the peace
or security of this State, or with intent to disturb, counteract, or hin-
der the laws of this State, made or to be made, in relation to slaves
or free negroes, mulattoes. or mestizoes, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, sliail be sentenced to pay
for the first olfcnce, a fine not exceeding $1000, and to be imprisoned
not exceeding one year ; and for the second otVoncCj he shall be
Negiu) Law of South Cakoh.xa. 49
imprisoned 7 years, and pay a fine not less than $1000, or be banislicd
from the State, as the Court shall sec fit.
Sec. 31. The Governor's duty is to require all persons who come 3,,gpp,;Q„
into this State, for the purposes, and under the circumstances stated
in the 1st section of the Act of '41. and the preceding 29th section of
this digest, to depart from the State in 48 hours after such notice, and
such persons shall thereupon be bound to depart, and failing to do so,
they are guilty of a high misilemeanor, and upon conviction, are to
be sentenced to be banished from the State, and to such fine and
imprisonment, as the Court may think expedient. -
Sec. 32. Any person convicted a second or any subsequent time, , ^
■' ^ . , . I'h section.
under the 1st and 3d sections of the Act of '44, set out in the preceding
29th and 31st sections of this digest, is to be imprisoned not less than
7 years, to pay a fine not less than $1000, and to be banished from
the State.
Sec. 33. It is the duty of the Sheriflfof the District to execute the 5th section,
sentence of banishment, by sending the olTcnder out of the State;
and if he shall return, (unless by unavoidable accident,) the Sheriff
of the District where he may be found is " to hold'''' him in close con-
finement under the original sentence, until he shall enter into a recog-
nizance to leave the State and never to return.
Sec. 34. Free negroes, mulatioes, and mestizoes, entering this j^t ^^p. Act of
State as cook, steward, or mariner, or in any other employment, on ''^^' ^^ ^'''•'- ~'^^-
board any vessel, in violation of the provisions of the 2d section of
the Act of '35, and which is set out and prescribed in the 59th section
of Chapter 1, of this digest, and who may be apprehended and con-
fined by the Sheriff, are not entitled to the writ of Habeas Corpus.
Sec. 35. If the Sheriff shall by the usual posse comitatus and theo.igpp Actofi-i
civil authorities, not be able to enforce the provisions of the Act of^i stat. :iya-
'35, the Governor, on a requisition made on him. and signed by the
Sheriff, is required to order out a sufficient number of the militia, to
meet the exigency of the case, to be placed under the command of
discreet officers, who shall be ordered to give the Sheriff the aid
necessary to execute the said Act.
ERRATA.
In the unavoidable hurry of revising the proof-sheets, a (ew errors
escaped correction. Slight verbal inaccuracies, and those merely in-
volving an inversion or omission of a letter, the intelligence of the
reader will easily correct.
Page 10. line 3, for " rita,^'' read " rite."
« " " 10, for " sza-iYii,'' read '-'semiM."
LXDEX.
Page.
ABDUCTION. PtMialty for the forcible abduction of free negroes, 13
ACTION. Different forms of. for injuries, &,c.. to Blaves. 43
ACT OF LEGISLATURE. Emancipation to be effected only by, 1 1
An Act bcptovving freedom, never presumed, - - 11
APPAREL. Of slaves, resjulated, - - - 24,25
APPEAL. Wiion time shall be allowed for, - - - 34
APPRAISEMENT. To l)e made of convicted slaves, - 45
ASSAULT AND Bx\TTERY. Not jusiifiable for insolence
from a iVee negro, &c. _ . - - 13
By a slave, how punished, - - - -28,29
With intent to commit a rape, - - - - 29
ASSEMBLIES. Of slaves, &c., when unlawful, - 23,24
Proceedings in cases of, - - - - - 24
ATTORNEY. Allowed to slaves on their trial. - 34
BASTARDS. Issue of slaves married to free negroes, are, 23
BEaUEST. Of slaves, when void, - - - 11
To slaves, void. - - - - - -11
BRANDING. Of cattle, &c.. by slaves, unlawful, - 32
BURNING. Of stacks of rice. &c." by slaves and free persons of color.30
CAPTAINS. Of vessels, with negroes on board, to give bond, 15
CHARLESTON NECK. Patrol law relating to, - 40, 41, 42
Guard House, on. - - - - - - 42
LTnlawlul beating of slaves, _ . . - 44
CHALLENGE. Persons of color allowed the privilege of, 33
CLERK. A slave cannot be, - - - - 23
COLOR. When the evidence of being a slave, - - 5
Q,uestion of, to be tried by a Jury, . . - 6
When the question most usually arises, - - - 6
CONCEALMENT. Of slaves indicted for capital offences, unlawful 48
CONTRACTS. Slaves cannot make, - - - 22
COSTS. Of trial of slaves, &c., by whom paid, - - 36
COURT. Competency of Avitnesses, how tried. - - 7
How far the verdict concludes. _ _ . 7
To appraise the slave on conviction, - - - 45
CRIMES. Of slaves, free negroes, &c. - - - 28
DAMAGES. How assessed by the Jury, - • - - 9
DEER. When unlawful for slaves to kill, - - 31, 32
DERELICT. When slaves may be seized as such. 11
DESCRIPTION. Of slaves necessary in the Indictment, 46
EMANCIPATION. How effected, - - - 10
Copy deed to be given to the negro. - - - 10
To be made by the Legislature only, - - 11
Remarks on the power of. - - - - 12
EVIDENCE. How far color is evidence of being a slave, 5
Of freedom. - - - - - 9, 10
When slaves may testify, - - - - 23
Of tradinff with slaves, - - - 46
FELONY. The stealing of slaves, IS, - - - 17
Murder of a slave, is - - - - 19
52 Index.
FIRE ARMS. Not to be carried by per.?on.s of color, '
Slaves not nllowed to carry or use.
Seizure of. from slaves. - ' -
Mode of proceeding. - _ _ .
FORFEITURE. Of slaves, -
FREEDOM, auestion of. how tried,
Oh whom the burden of proof lies.'
Entry of. must be made in Court,
Evidences of. _ _ . _
FREE PERSONS OF COLOR. Entitled to all the ri
of property. -----
Tlieir disabilities, - _ - -
Their rights and privileges,
What the term, signifies, _ - .
Not to enter the State, - - - -
Penalty and proceedings. - - -
Not allowed to carrj- weapons. - - -
GAMING. With slaves, &c., unlawful, -
GAOLER. His duties, respecting runaways, -
GUARDIAN. When and how appointed,
Who must have one, and who can be one -
His relation towards his ward,
HARBORING. Of slaves by slaves, unlawful.
Of runaway slaves, - -
Penalty for, -----
HIRING. Slaves not to hire houses. &c. -
Unlawful to hire to slaves. _ . _
Penalty and mode of proceeding,
Master not to hire to slaves their own time,
Penalty and proceedings. - - -
Of slaves, by the year. - - - -
The duties, liabilities. &c.. of the parties,
HUNTING. When unlawfulin slaves,
Trial and mode of proceeding,
IMPORTATION. Of slaves unlawful,
Penalty and mode of proceeding,
INDIANS. When declared to be slaves.
Color no evidence of being slaves,
Presumed to be free, - ^ -
'DcQmQdichite within the meaning of the Constitution,
INSOLENCE. Of free person of color, how punished,
Ol" slaves, how punished. - _ _
INSURRECTION. Attempt to raise, how punished.
JUDGMENT. On issue of freedom, ' - ' -
Of the Court to be in writing.
To he signed by tiie Magistrate and freeholders.
To be returned to the Clerk's Office, -
JURY. When they ought to find the party to be white.
When they should find him to be a mulatto.
When dispensed with, - _ -
The party may claim a Jufy. . - -
Persons of color cannot be Jurors,
LEVY. Slaves exempt from, - - -
LICENSE. To retail, when granted, - - 47
Oath of applicants ibr, - - - - 47
Pase.
16
25
25
25
27
8
8
9
- 9, 10
12
13
13
- 14, 15
16
16
16
- 45.46
'37
8
13
13
30,31
45
31,45
25
25
25
26
26
43
43
31.32
32
26.27
- 26; 27
5
5
5
8
13
32
30
9
34
34
34
()
6
6
6
13
18
iNorx. 5:>
Page.
LIQUOR. Slaves not allowed to distil. - - 32
Unlawful to give or sell to slaves, - - - 33. 40
Penalty and proceedings for giving to slaves, - 33 46
When a slave dies iVoni the eli'ecl of the liquor, - 47
MAGISTRATE. Court of Magistrate and freeholders. 33
His duties on the trial of slaves, &.C. - - - 3i
MAIMING. Of slaves, how punished, - - 20
or a white person by a slave. - - -29
MARRIAGE. Slaves cannot contract, - - 23
MASTER. Has the right of protection of his slave, - 18
In what way he may protect his slaves. - - 18
Bound to give his slaves sufllcient food, &c. - - 20
Penalty for not so providing them, - - 20
Not to "hire to slaves their own time, - - - 26
His rights and liabilities, - - - 43
His civil and criminal remedies, - - - 43
When liable for the acts of his slave, - - 48
MESTIZOES. When declared to be slaves, - - 5
Who are so called, _ - - - S
Their disabilities. - - - - 8
MIGRATION. Of persons of color forbidden, - - 15
Penalty and proceedings. - - - - 15
MILITIA DUTY. Free persons of color, subject to, - 16
MISDEMEANOR. Unlawful v.-hipping, &c., of a slave, - 19
When slaves are guilty of, - - - 32
MULATTO. Who is a mulatto, - - - 5
The issue of a white woman and a negro. - - 17
Such mulatto is free, - - - - 17
MURDER. Ofa slave is felony, - - - 19
What shall constitute the murder of a slave, - - 19
Ofa white person by a tree person of color. - 28
Ofa white person by a slave, - - - 28
Of a slave by a slave, - - - - 28
NEGROES. Their status, rights and disabilities. - 5
When declared to be slaves, _ - . 5
To whom ihe term is confined, - - - 5
NOTICE. Of the time of trial to be given to the slave, &c. 34
OATHS. Not to be administered to persons of color, - 13
Of Jurors on the trial of slaves. &,c. - - 34
OVERSEER. Not to use his employer's slaves, - - 44
Not to trade with his employer's slaves, - - 47
PARDON. Time allowed tor application for, - - 34
PATROL. Plow divided and organized, - - - 38
Who liable to do patrol duty, - - - - 38
Substitutes may be sent. ----- 38
Penalty for failing to do patrol duty, . - - 38
Duties of Captains of Beat Companies. - - - 38
Powers, duties and liabilities of the patrol, - - 38. 39, 40
Not liable to the payment of tolls. - - . -10
By whom regulated in towns. &c. - - . 40
Who cannot be the Captain. - - - - -10
Form of the ticket to pass a slave. . . . 40
Penalty for the default of the Captain, - . - 40
Treble costs, when allowed. _ _ - - 40
On Charleston Neck. - - - - 40,41,42
51 TxDr.x.
PETITION. Prncoedir.gs by, - - - - 9
PENALTY". For the forcible abduction of free negroe.?, - 13
For not making a tax return, . - - - 14
For the iinJawtbl migration of shives. . _ - 15, 16
For not giving food, clothing, &c., to .slaves, - - 20
For lioiding unlawful assemblies, - - - - 24
For hiring to slaves their own time, - - - 26
For tlie unlawful importation of slaves. - - -26.27
For attenijUing to raise insurrections, - . - 30
For failing to do patrol duty. - - - - 38
For the default of the Captain of the patrol, - - 40
For the unlawful beating of slaves, - - - 44
For giving or selling liquor to a slave, - - - 33, 46
For giving a ticket to another's slave, - - - 45
For harboring runaways, . . . _ 31, 45
For gainuig with slaves. &c. - - - - 46
For tniding with slaves. '- . - . . 45
For unlawful interference with slavery. - - -48.49
POISONING. By slaves. &c.. how puni.shable. - - 30
PROHIBITION. When a writ will issue, -' - - G, 7
When made absolute. . _ - _ 7
On whom the onus p7^obandi lies. - - - . 7
When the decision is conclusive, _ _ _ 7
What may be given in evidence. _ - - - 7
PROPERTY. Rights of as regards free persons of color, 12
Of slaves, belongs to their master, - - - - 21
PROTECTION. The slave's right of, transferred to the master, 18
PUNISHMENT. Of slaves and free persons of color. 2a 32
When the Court may mitigate, - - - 29
Of slaves, &c., for capital offences, - - - 33
For offences not capital, _ _ _ . 33
Of slaves, &c.. by whipping. - - - - 35
Unlawlul punishment of slaves, _ _ _ 43,44
RAPE. How punished in a slave, 29
READING. Slaves not to be taught. 23
RUNAWAYS. Who may apprehend, 36
Mode of proceeding, 36
To be kept by the Gaoler, &c., 37
When they may be sold, 37
How the proceeds of sale are to be applied, 37
Compensation for apprehending, 37, 38
To be lodged in the Gaol or Work House, 37. 38
Duties of persons apprehending, 37, 38
To be furnished with food. &c^ 38
To be put to labor in the Work House, 38
Unlawful to harbor. 45
Penalty for harboi'ing, 45
Persons wounded in apprehending them. 45
SHERIFF. His duties respecting runaways. 36
SLANDER. How far justification concludes, in an action of, 7
Nominal damages in an action of, 8
SLAVES. Who declared to be such, 5
Color, evidence of being, 5
To whom their offspring goes, 5, 17
Are considered as chattels personal, 5. 17
l.No::x. 53
Taj,"-.
SLAVES. How emancipated, i L
Gift to slaves void. ^ 1 1
Penalty for the forcible abduction of. IIJ
Their civil rights;, liabilities and di.sabilitic.-. 17
Stealing of, is felony, 17
Of tenant lor life, to finish the crop after his death, 17
Are exempt from levy, IS
Should be annexed to the freehold. 18
Killing of, 19
To be provided with sufficient food. &c. 20
Maiming, &c., of slaves, how punished, 20
Number of hours to work, 21
Not to be abandoned by their master, 21
When they may acquire and hold property, 21
Cannot make any legal contract, 2r3, 23
Apparel of, regulated, 24, 25
Not allowed to rent houses, &e. 25
Not more than seven to travel together, 25
Not to be brought into the State, 26, 27
Forfeiture of, 27
When answerable for crimes, &c. 2S
Trial and punishment of, 28, 2'J
Attempt to raise insurrection among. 30
Stealing or harboring, 30, 31
Not to trade or traffic, 31
Guilty of a trespass, how punished, 32
Allowed the privilege of cJiallenge, 33
Attornies, allowed to defend, 34
When they may be lawfully killed, 36
The hiring of by the year, 43
Different forms of action for injuries, 43
Unlawful punishment of, 43, 44, 45
Unlawful to game with, 45, 46
When unlawful to give them tickets. 45
When convicted, to be appraised, 45
SLAVERY. Interference with, by emissaries, 48, 49
Penalty for interfering with, 48, 49
Mode of proceeding, 48. 49
SUNDAY. Slaves not to work on, ' 21
TAXES. Capitation tax on free negroes, &c.. 14
Penalty tor not making returns and paying. 14
TENANT FOR LIFE. Slaves to finish the crop after his
death 17
TICKETS. Unlawful to give one to another's slave. 45
TRADING. By slaves in Cliarlcston, unlawful, 31
Proceedings in cases of, 31
With slaves unlawful, 46, 47
With slaves how proved. 46, 47
By the overseer, 47
TREASURER. To pay the sum appraised to the master of
an executed slave, 45
TRESPASS. Action of, by the guardian of a negro claiming to
be free, 8. 9
In a white man a misdemeanor in a slave, 32
When the action ol' may be brought, 43, 44
56 Index.
Page.
TRIAL. Of free persons of color, 6
Of slaves, free negroes, &c., 28, 83
Notice of the time of trial to be given. 34
When the Judge may grant a new trial, 34
New mode of trial of slaves &c.. recommended 35, 36
Slaves not to be twice tried for the same offence, 36
WHIPPING. See Punishment
WITNESSES. Free persons of color cannot he 13
WORK. How long slaves shall work during the day, 21
WORK HOUSE. Duties of the master respecting runaways36. 37
THE COMMIT'] EE ON TFIE JUDICIARY,
To whum woro I'-ferred the Ne.oio Law of South Carolina, collected and
digested by the Hon. John liclton O'Neall, for the State Agricultural So-
ciety of South Carolina, respectfully
REPORT :
That the compilation of law as exhibited in this work, will add to the
high reputation already jiossessed by the com|>iler for learning and ability.
So closely is the institution of which it treats, interwoven, not only with
the social, but legal policy of the State, that the Statute Books are laden
with enactments upon the subject, and the Term Books crowded with de- y
cisions interpreting such Statutes. To gather from this mass what is law, ^
requires not merely much study, but accurate legal discrimination, render-
ing it nearly impossible for any but professional men to arrive at right con-
clusions. This work has gnthered into a condensed form the Statuto-
ry Law now in existence, and has collated the most important decisions,
shewing the principles upon which such statutory enactments should be
interpreted. Had it been merely a compilation of law, the course of the
Committee would be plain and easy, since they deem it, as such, a work
worthy of much attention. Jkit the author has added to this, the expres-
sion of his opinion, and although defering much to his long experience
and acknowledged capacity, the Committee are constrained to differ wide-
ly from these views, and to express the belief that his view^s are such as ^
would, if disseminated, prejudice the settled policy of the State. The Com-
mittee have been unable, from the short space of time allowed for the con-
sideration of this work, to express as fully as was desired their views upon
this subject, but they now proceed, as succinctly as possible, to state the
objections which presented themselves upon a rapid revieu^
And the first objection which the Committee urge, is to the positive
terms used in chap. 1, sec. 8, " When the blood is reduced to, or below
one-eighth, the jury ought always to find the party white." The case of
the State vs. Davis & Hanna, 2 Bail, 560, the strongest upon the subject,
by no means support so positive an assertion. The decision goes no far-
ther than to say, that as a general rule, it should assist the jury in finding
a verdict, being in general conformable to experience, while it distinctly
says, other and concurring circumstances should also be required to aid ^
the finding of the jury. No positive law can be laid down ; features, color,
and other personal appearance, will often enable a jury to come to a decis-
ion, where a fixed quantity of blood would prove o\ little or no avail.
The Committee fully concur with the opinion of the above cited case, and
believe it the only true criterion upon the subject.
The expression of opinion contained in chap. 1, Sec. 15, is not to be re-
garded as law, but merely as the dictum of one whom the Committee
frankly avow, learned and able, and whose opinion is entitle.! to inuoa
weight. As a general rule, the onus of proof rests upon such as claim a
higher status of color, whether the same burden rests in cases of prohibi-
lion against a Tax Collector's execution, is unadjudicated. This section
should not therefore be regarded as established law.
The next point upon which the Committee differ from the author, is with
the reasoning contained in chap. 1, Sec. 19. The law is laid down in
this section, is doubtless correct ; but the argument ased to overthrow the
law, are such as cannot meet the views of the Committee. Although, by
the Constitution placed upon a higher status in society than the African
^ race, many substantial reasons exist why the Indian should not be allow-
ed to enjoy 'he full privileges of a white. The servile condition of the
negrorace, and the well established policy of the State, to exclude them
from all political franchises, is of itself a strong reason why the Indian
should be debarred, in this respect, from an equality with the white man.
So closely does the color of those two races assimilate, that granting
these privileges to one, may effect an entrance for the other, and lead to a
disregard for color, the observance of which is one of the s'frong supports
of the institution. The Indian also enjoys certain immunities, such as free-
dom from taxation, &c. and with his tribe constitutes, in a measure, a sep-
arate government. The allowance therefore, of suffrage and holding of-
fice would place him upon a better condition than the whites. Other reasons
could be adduced, but these are deemed sufficient to show the wisdom
of its decision.
The committee must also difler fiom the opinion expressed in chap. 1,
sec. 44. The Acts cfl820 and 1841, prohibiting emancipation, Avere the
result of long experience, and forced upon the State by an abuse of the
right. The creation of a class differing by no distinctive color, and but
little greater;immunities, from the servile class, and elated by a nominal
freedom, cannot fail to produce in the lower caste envy and heart-burn-
ing, the result of which may be most disastrous. Neither can this inter-
mediate grade be considered as a safeguard, debarred by the policy of the
country from the privileges of the white man, they cannot assimilate with
him in feeling, and must, to a certain extent, seek sympathy with those in
\ a lower rank of life. The indolent character of the race, and their indis-
position to labor, when livelihood can be obtained by other means, would
have a tendency to create a class seriously prejudicial to the interests and
morality of the community.
In ciiap. 1, sec. 47, it is said of Free Negroes, "their marriages with
one another, and ev^ with white people, are legal." The case ot Bowers
vs. Newman, 2 McMullan, p. 472, cited in the margin, as an authority for
this expression, by no means supports the position. It was not deemed
necessary by Judge Earle, who delivered the opinion of the Court in this
case, to consider the legality of such marriages, and in this he was sus-
tained by five Judges; two dissentient opinions were delivered, in which
the point was considered, and said to be legal. But, as the case turned
upon other points, the opinion of two of the Court cannot be considered
as decisive, and more especially so, since a majority of the Bench did not
deem it a question in issue, although learnedly argued before them. The
legality of such marriages has therefore been unadjudicated, and the
! Committee will now proceed to give reasons why they deem such marria-
ges between whites and colored persons illegal. The arguments upon
this subject in the Carolina Law Journal, p. 92. and seq , so forcible
that no apology is deemed necessary for extracting therefrom. Marriages
between slaves is treated as concubinage, merely from the incapacity of
the slave to contract. Marriages between whites and colored persons is
next considered, and classed also as concubinage. "The universal differ-
ence," says the author, "between concubinage and nnarriage, is the want ^
of inter-communication of civil rights and privileges — equality of stalusV
"Their contract, therefore, is not marriage; it can, at best, amount only to
what was concubinage by mutual contract under the civil law," "A
colored man, though no slave, is not sui juris; he must have a guardian
appointed; he must act through his guardian." "Under such marriage
contract, the guardian of the colored w-omen and the husband may be two
different persons." Strong as these arguments undoubtedly are, they
appear strengthened by the effect of the decision in the State vs. Hayes, I
Bail., p. 275, that the offspring of a white female by a colored male is a
mulatto, and can be tried only in a Court of Magistrate and Freeholders.
Can that connection be legal then, which deprives the issue of a white,
whose color gives certain privileges? Or must it not be concubinage
merely ? But again, one of the incidents of marriage, under the common
law, is to put a woman under control of her husband, •^fuslUms et jiagdlis
aerita verberare vxorom." Can the connection be legal, which, in case of
correction on the husband's part, would at once snbject him to indictment
for striking a white? But apart from the reasons which would induce
the belief that the marriages between whites and colored persons are ille- w^
gal, the policy of the State is decidedly against it. Whatever tends to
break' down the barriers between the two classes of color, must weaken the
institution.
Whether free negroes are entitled to the writ of Habeas Corpus, is yet
undecided. At Nisi Prius the writ has been allowed, but no case, in the
knowledge of the Committee, has been presented to the Court of Appeals
requiring a decision. The Committee, therefore thing the law is too posi-
tively laid down in chap. 1. see. 48.
With the reasoning contained in chap. 1, Sec. 52, the Committee feel
called upon to differ. The obligation of an oath is too great to be admin-
istered to a class so illiierate as to be unable to understand its nature, and
whose proverbial mendacity would generally lead to its violation.
The term "freeman" used in the Con.stitulion, does not, in the opinion
of the Committee, apply to free persons of color. The imposition of a
capitation tax, has been always deemed a healthy regulation, and in case
of failure tc pay it, the law has affixed a penalty but little different from
that attached to a white man, who begets a bastard, and is unable to pay
the sentence. The Committee consequently cannot agree with the author,
in chap. 1, sec. 55. that the Constitutionality of the law is doubtful.
The policy of the State in excluding from its limits by stringent laws,
free negroes and persons of color, coming from other places, is so firmly
established, and iheir wisdom so generally conceded, that no reasoning
is needed on the part of the Committee for differing in opinion from the
author in chap. 1. sec. 65.
Neither can the Committee agree in the opinion expressed in chap. 2,
sec. 8, relative to a mitigation of the law against such as inveigle and
steal negroes. Recent events have demonstrated that fanaticism will go
to such extreme lengths, as to need laws of a most penal character, for
self defence.
The provision of the County Court Act, exempting Slaves from levy
under certain circumstances, has not, in the belief of the Committee, been
repealed; ihey cannot therefore coincide in the doubt expressed in chap.
2 sec. 9, whether it remains of force.
The Committee express a decided dissent, to the charge brought in
chap. 2. sec. 26, that the negroes in South Carolina are so badly provided
with clothing, food, &c., as to need the enforcement of the existing statu-
tory enactments by severe penalties. As a peasantry, their provision is
probiibly more ample, than in any other part of the world, except the slave-
holding States: a provision so ample, that even the existing laws area
dead letter upon the Statute books. Independently of the feeling of human-
ity, it is the interest of all who hold this property, to make such arrange-
ments for comfort, as will both preserve health, strength and life, and
contribute to their increase. The exceptions, if any exist, must be very
rare. Constituted of persons from all sections of the State, whose profes-
sional avocations lead them to mingle freely with their respective constitu-
encies, the Committee are not aware of any part of the State, where the
instincts of humanity are dead, or the dictates of interest unheeded.
The causes which led to the Act of 1834, making it an indictable
offence to teach slaves to read or write, have by no means abated, but
rather increased. The committee therefore cannot concur with the opinion
expressed in chap. 2. sec. 42; nor is the slave by such prohibition cut off"
from learning the doctrines of Christianity. Apart from any instructions
which may be communicated by the owner or his family, domestic mis-
sionaries have within the last few years been rapidly extending their work :
and there are now opportunities afforded in almost every part of the State,
for negroes to attend Divine worship, and be instructed. And a large
number of planters, steadily employ ministers, to perform service on the
Sabbath, and teach their slaves the elements of Christianity.
The Acts mentioned in chap. 2, sec. 47, the Committee cannot believe
should be repealed. While it is true that religious meetings are allowed,
and the enactments virtually repealed, still they should remain, that in
case of necessity the law may be enforced, and protection afforded to both
whites and blacks. The same reason applies to sec. 52.
Chap. 3, sec. 23, would, in the opinion of the Committee, have been
more complete, had it been stated that under the Act of 1839, four of the
Freeholders and the Magistrate could sign Judgment.
By the Act of 1847, The Patrol system was abolished, within certain
limitson Charleston neck, and a police authorized ; the 55th sec. of chap. 3,
would have been more perfect by a notice of this Statute.
In discharging the duty assigned to them, the Committee are sensible
that some points have been passed over, on which the author held opinions
different from the Committee. The brief time allowed for the work,
rendered an answer to all, impracticable: and the Committee deemed it
most beneficial to notice such as seemed most objectionable. The Com-
mittee reiterate their belief that as a compilation of law it is valuable, and
generally correct. But the incorporation of private opinions, however
high the source from which they emanate, may tend to lead the unskilled
into error.
The Committee therefore recommend that it is inexpedient that the
work should be printed, at the expense of the State, since in many partic-
ulars, it contains opinions at variance with the settled policy of the State.
WILMOT G. DeSAUSSURE, On behalf of the Committee.
W289
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